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Bible  Ethics 

A  MANUAL  OF  INSTRUCTION 

IN   THE 

HISTORY   AND    PRINCIPLES 

OF 

JUDAISM, 

According   to    the    Hebrew    Scriptures, 


Rev.  JOS.  KRAUSKOPF  and  Rev.  HENRY  BERKOWITZ 

H 


CINCINNATI : 
BLOCH  &  CO.,  Publishers  and  Pbjntres. 

1884. 


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INDEX. 


A.— DUTIES  TOWARD  OUR  FELLOW-MEN. 

CHAPTKR.  PAGE. 

I.    BE  JUST  AND  KIND, 1 

U.    CARE  FOR  THE  LIFE,  HEALTH  AND  WELFARE  OF  OTHERS,     -  3 

III.    GUARD  THE  RIGHTS  OF  OTHERS, 4 

IV.    HELP  TFIE  NEEDY,        ---------  6 

V.    DO  NOT  SPEAK  OR  PLOT  EVIL  AGAINST  ANY  ONE,  9 

VI.    FORGIVE  AND  FORGET,           --------  14 

B  —  DUTIES  TO  OURSELVES. 

I.  TAKK  CAKE  OF  YOUR  LIFE  AKD  HEALTH, 16 

II.  BE  INDUSTRIOUS, 17 

III.    BE  TEMPERATE  AND  CHASTE, -           -  19 

IV.    BE  MASTER  OF  YOUR  TEMPER, -  21 

V.    DESERVE  HONOR  AND  GUARD  IT, 23 

VI.    BE  MODEST  IN  ALL  THINGS, 24 

VII.  KEEP  PURE  COMPANIONS, --26 

VIII.  STRIVE  TO  BE  HOLY  AND  PERFECT, 27 

IX.    BE  CONTENT  AND  ENVY  NO  ONE, 28 

X.    DO  CHARITY  AND  YOU  WILL  GROW  BETTER  THEREBY,            -      "_-  30 

XI.    STUDY  YOURSELF  THAT  YOU  MAY  BETTER  YOURSELF,  31 

XII.    ELEVATE  YOUR  MORAL  NATURE, -  32 

XIII.    SEEK  TO  BECOME  WISER, -  32 

0.— DUTIES  IN  GENERAL. 

I.    DUTIES  OF  PARENTS  TO  CHILDREN,             ------  34 

II.  DUTIES  OF  CHILDREN  TO  THEIR  PARENTS,               ...            -  35 

III.  DUTIES  OF  MASTER  AND  SERVANT, 37 

IV.  DUTIES  TO  YOUR  BENEFACTORS, 38 

V.    DUTIES    TOWARD    ORPHANS,    WIDOWS,    STRANGERS,    OR    TH08E     OF 

OTHER  BELIEFS, 39 

445928 


IV.  INDEX. 

CHAPTER.  PAGH 

VI.  OUR  DUTIES  TOWARD  OUR  COUNTRY,    ------  40 

VII.  OUR  DUTIES  TOWARD  THE  AGED  AND  HELPLESS,       -            "            -  -48 
VIII.    OUR  DUTIES  TOWARD  THE  LOWER  ANIMALS,           -            -            -            -  44 

D.-OUR  RELIGIOUS  DUTIES. 

I.    BE  EVER  MINDFUL  OF  THE  COMMANDMENTS  OF  GOD  AND  ACT  UP  TO 

THEM, -46 

U.  -BE  FILLED  WITH  AWE  BEFORE  GOD  THAT  YOU  MAY  DO  NO  WRONG,  47 

III.    THOU  SHALT  LOVE  GOD  WITH  ALL  THY  HEART,         -  -">() 

IV.    BE  THANKFUL  FOR  ALL  OF  GOD'S  GOODNESS,  -  51 

V.    TRUST  FIRMLY  IN  GOD  AND  BOW  WITH  PIOUS  HUMILITY  TO  HIS  WILL,  54 

VI.    BELIEVE  IN  GOD  AND  IN  NO  SUPERSTITION,  -  •  61 

VII.    WORSHIP  GOD  WITH  AN  UPRIGHT  HEART,  -----  (J .', 

VIII.  LET  THE  OBSERVANCE  OF  THE  SABBATHS  AND  HOLIDAYS,  AND  YOUR 
ATTENDANCE  AT  THE  PLACE  AND  PARTAKING  IN  ALL  MATTERS 
OF    WORSHIP    BE    A    FIXED    AND    EARNEST  DUTY  ALL  THROUGH 

LIFE, -  -.-  (39 

E.— MAN  AND  HIS  MISSION. 

I.    MAN  IS  THE  NOBLEST  OF  GOD'S  WORKS,  -----  74 

II.    MAN  HAS  FREE  WILL  AND  CONSCIENCE,        -----  Jfi 

III.    THE  SOUL  OF  MAN  IS  IMMORTAL,      -  ...  73 

IV.    IT  IS  MAN'S  MISSION  TO  TRY  AND  PERFECT  HIS  MORAL,  MENTAL  AND 

PHYSICAL   NATURES, 80 

V.  IT  IS  THE  DUTY  OF  EVERY  ONE  TO  SO  ACT  THAT  HIS  ACTIONS  SHALL 

SERVE  AS  A  MODEL  TO  OTHERS, 

VI.  IT  IS  OUR  SACRED  DUTY  TO  PRESERVE  AND  LIVE  UP  TO  OUR  INHER- 

ITED FAITH, 8:; 

VII.  IT  IS  OUR  SACRED  DUTY  TO  KEEP    FROM    SINNING    AND    TO    REPENT 

OF  OUR  EVIL  DOINGS,       -  85 

VIII.  THE  GOOD  ARE  REWARDED  ;    THE  BAD  ARE  PUNISHED,  -  88 
IX.    IT  IS  OUR  SACRED  DUTY   TO   OBEY  AND   TEACH    THE    WILL    OF    GOD 

WHICH  WAS  REVEALED  TO  ISRAEL,  -  -  -  -        90 

X.    IN  ALWAYS    FULFILLING  THESE    DUTIES  LIES  THE  REALIZATION  OF 

THE  MISSION  OF  OUR   RELIGION,        - 02 


TO  THE  TEACHER. 


It  is  the  design  of  this  little  work  to  lead  up,  by  progressive  steps, 
to  the  study  of  the  Bible.  Its  matter  is  Biblical.  It  is  the  religion  and 
moral  code  of  the  Bible  which  is  here  taught,  freed  from  the  doc- 
trines of  theology.  This  is  pure  Judaism,  but  is  at  the  same  time  that 
in  which  Jew  and  non-Jew  agree,  because  it  is  religion  shorn  of  that 
added  material  in  which  no  two  sects  entirely  coincide. 

The  method  of  the  book  is  simple,  and  will  recommend  itself  as 
affording  the  following  advantages  : 

( i )  The  paragraphs  introducing  each  new  theme  give,  in  a  terse 
and  simple  manner,  a  clear  statement  of  the  principle  that  is  to  be 
learned,  thus  first  stating  in  familiar  terms  what  is  afterward  given  in 
the  language  of  the  Bible.  The  beautiful  sayings  found  in  the  Rab- 
binical and  Talmudical  writings  are  frequently  made  use  of  to  this  end. 

(2)  Quotations  from  all  sources,  in  prose  and  poetry,  are  given,  as 
containing  in  a  sharp-cut,  crystalized  form  the  truths  elucidated,  pre- 
senting them  thus  in  a  manner  striking,  impressive  and  beautiful. 
This  renders  the  act  of  memorizing  easy  and  permanent.  At  the 
same  time  the  quotations  show  how  the  great  men  of  various  ages  and 
nations  have  expressed  themselves  concerning  these  Biblical  truths, 
thus  indirectly  indicating  the  vast  influence  of  Jewish  thought  and  the 
priceless  value  of  the  Hebrew  tongue,  the  casket  of  so  many  gems. 

(3)  References  to  the  historical  portions  of  the  Bible  are  made,  in 
order  to  illustrate  by  them  the  principles  of  practical  conduct.  The 
pupil  thus  has  his  mind  directed  to  the  Bible  story  for  the  immediate 
purpose  of  searching  for  the  truth,  or  moral  lesson,  that  has  just  been 


TO    THE    TEACHER. 

set  forth  to  him.  The  great  purpose  of  teaching  Bible  history  is  thus 
much  more  effectively  gained  by  first  setting  the  sentiment  before  the 
mind  and  then  making  the  pupil  illustrate  from  the  Bible  (or  any  other 
source,  be  it  profane  history,  fiction  or  practical  life),  than  by  the 
method,  in  common  use,  of  making  the  story  the  all-important  thing, 
and  pointing  dryly  at  the  moral  after  the  interest  of  the  pupil  has 
slackened,  his  curiosity  having  been  satisfied. 

(4)  A  great  abundance  of  Biblical  verses  is  then  given,  setting 
forth  the  truth  that  is  being  learned,  in  various  forms,  and  presenting 
it  to  the  mind  so  as  to  be  seen  from  all  sides.  The  Bible,  the  great 
text-book  of  the  Jewish  religion,  is  thus  made  to  speak  for  itself.  This 
book  is  simply  an  epitome  of  the  Bible.  References  to  the  places 
where  the  verses  are  found  in  the  Bible  are  added,  so  as  to  familiarize 
the  pupil  with  the  names  of  the  writers  and  the  books  of  Biblical  liter- 
ature, and  it  is  expected  that  he  will  verify  the  references  by  consult- 
ing his  Bible  in  each  case. 

(5)  The  book  is  a  complete  guide  in  the  conduct  of  life,  for  old 
and  young,  in  the  family  circle,  and  in  all  the  relations  of  life,  but  it 
is  designed  especially  for  Sabbath-school  work.  The  themes  handled 
progress  as  does  also  the  language  with  the  progress  of  the  pupil.  The 
simpler  subjects  are  first  treated  of.  The  daily  duties  to  others  are 
taken  up  first,  so  as  to  direct  the  child  away  from  itself,  and  thus  nip 
in  the  bud  its  selfish  impulses.  Then  all  the  other  duties  in  life  are 
explained,  proceeding  from  the  more  to  the  less  concrete,  reserving 
the  more  abstract  matter  for  the  higher  classes  and  the  more  matured 
minds. 

(6)  There  is  material  enough  to  supply  five  classes  each  with  a 
full  year  of  religious  instruction,  each  division  of  the  book  being  de- 
signed for  one  year's  work,  the  fifth  class  to  be  the  "  Confirmation 
Class,"  by  whom  the  whole  book  is  to  be  thoroughly  reviewed. 

(7)  Furthermore,  this  book  will  be  found  especially  valuable  in 
schools  where  there  is  a  lack  of  regularly-trained  teachers.  This,  in 
fact,  is  the  condition  of  all  our  Jewish  schools,  excepting,  perhaps,  a 
few  in  the  larger  cities.     Any  earnest,  intelligent  person  may  teach 


TO    THE    TEACHER. 

by  this  book  without  having  been  otherwise  specially  trained  for  the 
task,  all  the  work  being  clearly  prepared  for  him;  but  a  thorough 
familiarity  with  the  subjects  in  the  lessons  must  be  obtained  by  the 
teacher  beforehand,  by  home  study,  or,  where  there  is  a  Rabbi,  in 
normal  classes. 

(8)  Teachers  accustomed  to  the  old-style  of  books  for  Sabbath- 
schools  will  be  deceived  in  not  finding  the  customary  collection  of 
prayers,  benedictions,  hymns,  etc.  These  have  been  purposely 
omitted.  They  will  be  found  in  their  appropriate  places  in  the  prayer- 
books  and  hymn-books,  and  they  should  be  learned  from  those  books. 
The  scope  of  this  book  is  of  a  totally  different  character;  it  is  to  teach 
the  religious  principles  of  the  Bible.  It  is  not  to  supplant,  in  any  de- 
gree, the  books  used  in  divine  service. 

(9)  This  book  does  away  with  the  necessity  of  using  a  great  many 
text-books.  It  is  simply  accessory  to  the  Bible  and  the  prayer-books, 
which  every  one  has. 

(10)  The  plan  of  using  the  book  is : — 

(a)  By  direct  "  talks"  between  the  teachers  and  the  pupils  to 
secure  the  end  of  all  religious  training  by  shaping  and  developing  the 
learner's  mental,  moral  and  spiritual  nature.  Ample  materials  for 
these  "  talks"  are  here  offered.  Many  of  the  general  quotations  and 
of  the  Bible  verses  that  may  be  too  lofty  for  the  comprehension  of 
children  will  afford  the  teacher  endless  suggestions  for  those  quiet, 
earnest  conversations  by  which  the  religious  nature  can  best  be 
reached.  Take,  as  an  example,  under  D  :  Our  Religious  Duties,  the 
division  numbered  6.  Believe  in  no  superstitions,  verse  6,  on  the  various 
kinds  of  superstitious  practices. 

(b)  By  Illustrations.  Example  is  stronger  than  precept.  The  his- 
torical references  make  no  pretense  at  being  complete ;  they  simply 
point  to  the  way.  Every  teacher  will  best  know  how  to  spur  his  pupils 
on  to  study  the  Bible  for  other  illustrations,  and  to  keep  careful  watch 
in  all  reading,  and  to  notice  the  events  of  every-day  life,  with  the 
same  end  in  view,  thus  awaking  their  minds,  and  literally  educating, 
i.  e. ,  drawing  out  their  faculties. 


TO   THE   TEACHER. 

(c)  By  Memorizing.  The  whole  book  may  well  be  memorized.  The 
old  system,  which  prevailed  in  all  Jewish  schools,  of  learning  a 
"  Posek"  or  a  Bible  verse  each  day,  was  a  good  one,  and  should  be 
revived.  The  book  affords  ample  and  suitable  material.  Where  too 
much  matter  is  given,  selections  may  be  readily  made.  Such  a  stock 
of  excellent  sayings,  learned  in  youth,  remains  fixed  forever,  and 
exercises  an  influence  for  good  throughout  life  that  can  not  be  esti- 
mated. 

(d)  By  Method.  For  the  smaller  schools  that  are  under  the  disad- 
vantage of  having  no  definite  plan  of  work  this  book  will  be  found  in- 
valuable, inasmuch  as  it  lays  out  the  course  of  study  clearly  and 
methodically. 


BIBLE  ETHICS. 

A.— DUTIES  TOWARD  OUR  FELLOW-MEN. 

I.— BE  JUST  AND  KIND. 

It  is  our  first  duty  to  be  just,  which  means  to  be  fair  to  ourselves 
and  to  all  others.  This  we  can  be  by  giving  to  every  one  what  is  due 
to  him,  and  by  never  harming  any  one,  as  the  wise  teacher  Hillel 
said:  "  What  is  hateful  unto  thee,  thou  shalt  not  do  to  others."  In 
being  just,  we  should  always  be  kind.  By  mercy  and  gentleness  our 
just  acts  and  words  may  be  made  less  severe. 


"  Kindness  is  wisdom.    There  is  none  in  life 
But  needs  it." — Bailey. 
"  Kindness — a  language  which  the  dumb  can  speak  and  the  deaf  can 
understand. ' ' — Bover . 

"  For  blessings  always  wait  on  virtuous  deeds, 
And  though  a  late  a  sure  reward  succeeds." — Congreve. 


Show  the  truth  Of  the  above  from  the  following  or  any  other  stories 
in  the  Bible  :  Genesis  xiii.  7-10;  Genesis  xviii.  17-33;  Genesis  xxiv.; 
Genesis  xxix.  1-14. 


1.  Have  we  not  all  one  Father?  hath  not  one  God  created  us? 
(then)  why  shall  we  deal  treacherously,  every  man  against  his  brother, 
to  profane  the  covenant  of  our  fathers?     (Malachi  ii.  10.) 

2.  Thus  hath  said  the  Lord  of  Hosts,  saying  :  Execute  true  justice, 
and  show  kindness  and  mercy  every  man  to  his  brother. 


2  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

And  defraud  not  the  widow  or  the  fatherless,  the  stranger  or  the 
poor;  and  imagine  not  evil  in  your  heart,  one  against  the  other. 
(Zachariah  vii.  9-10.) 

3.  He  that  despiseth  his  neighbor  is  a  sinner,  but  he  that  is  gracious 
to  the  poor — happiness  attend  him!     (Prov.  xiv.  21.) 

4.  If  any  person  sin,  and  commit  a  trespass  against  the  Lord ;  if  he, 
namely,  lie  unto  his  neighbor,  in  that  which  was  delivered  to  him  to 
keep,  or  in  a  loan,  or  in  a  thing  taken  away  by  violence,  or  if  he  have 
withheld  the  wages  of  his  neighbor; 

Or  if  he  have  found  something  which  was  lost,  and  lie  concerning 
it,  and  swear  falsely  in  any  one  of  all  these  which  a  man  can  do  to  sin 
thereby  : 

Then  shall  it  be,  when  he  hath  sinned  and  is  conscious  of  his  guilt, 
that  he  restore  what  he  hath  taken  violently  away,  or  the  wages  which 
he  hath  withheld,  or  that  which  was  delivered  for  him  to  keep,  or  the 
lost  thing  which  he  hath  found.      (Leviticus  v.  21-23.) 

5.  Thus  hath  said  the  Lord,  Execute  ye  justice  and  righteousness, 
and  deliver  him  that  is  robbed  out  of  the  hand  of  the  oppressor;  and 
the  stranger,  the  fatherless,  and  the  widow  shall  ye  not  oppress,  and 
do  them  no  violence,  and  shed  no  innocent  blood  in  this  place.  (Jer- 
emiah xxii.  3.) 

6.  Thou  shalt  not  avenge  nor  bear  any  grudge  against  the  children 
of  thy  people;  but  thou  shalt  love  thy  neighbor  as  thyself:  I  am  the 
Lord.      (Leviticus  xix.  18.) 

7.  Wash  yourselves,  make  yourselves  clean  :  put  away  the  evil  of 
your  deeds  from  before  my  eyes  :  cease  to  do  evil; 

Learn  to  do  well ;  seek  for  justice,  relieve  the  oppressed,  do  justice 
to  the  fatherless,  plead  for  the  widow.     (Isaiah  i.  16-17.) 

8.  He  that  walketh  in  righteousness  and  speaketh  uprightly ;  he 
that  despiseth  the  gain  of  oppressions,  that  shaketh  his  hands  against 
taking  hold  of  bribes,  that  stoppeth  his  ears  against  hearing  of  blood, 
and  shutteth  his  eyes  against  looking  on  evil; 

He  shall  dwell  on  high;  rocky  strongholds  shall  be  his  refuge  :  his 
bread  shall  be  given  him ;  his  water  shall  be  sure.  (Isaiah  xxxiii.  15-16.) 


DUTIES    TOWARD    OUR    FELLOW-MEN.  3 

II.— CARE  FOR  THE  LIFE,  HEALTH  AND  WELFARE  OF 

OTHERS. 

We  must  not  take  the  life  or  injure  the  health  of  others,  but  must 
do  all  we  can  to  save  and  protect  them,  to  better  their  condition  and 
add  to  their  comfort. 

Our  own  natures  are  bettered  by  our  trouble  in  taking  care  of  the 
welfare  of  others. 


"  Take  not  away  the  life  you  can  not  give, 

For  all  things  have  an  equal  right  to  live." — Dry  den. 


Prove  the  truth  of  the  above  from  the  following  or  other  stories  in 
the  Bible.  Examples  :  Genesis  xiv.  1-24;  Genesis  xviii.  1-8;  Genesis 
xix.  1-4;  Exodus  ii.  1-2 1. 


1.  Deliver  those  that  are  taken  unto  death,  and  those  that  are 
moved  away  to  the  slaughter  hold  back.      (Proverbs  xxiv.  n.  ) 

2.  And  when  you  spread  forth  your  hands,  I  will  withdraw  my 
eyes  from  you,  yea,  when  you  make  ever  so  many  prayers,  I  will  not 
hear;  your  hands  are  full  of  blood.      (Isaiah  i.  15.) 

3.  No  man  shall  take  to  pledge,  the  nether  or  the  upper  millstone, 
for  he  taketh  a  man's  life  to  pledge.     (Deuteronomy  xxiv.  6.) 

4.  When  thou  buildest  a  new  house,  thou  shalt  make  a  battlement 
for  thy  roof;  that  thou  bring  not  blood  upon  thy  house,  if  any  one 
were  to  fall  from  there.     (Deuteronomy  xxii.  8.  ) 

5.  Thou  shalt  not  go  up  and  down  as  a  tale-bearer  among  thy 
people ;  thou  shalt  not  stand  (idly)  by  the  blood  of  thy  neighbor ;  I 
am  the  Lord.      (Leviticus  xix.  16.) 

6.  Whoso  sheddeth  man's  blood,  by  man  shall  his  blood  be  shed ; 
for  in  the  image  of  God  made  he  man.      (Genesis  ix.  5-6. ) 

7.  He  that  killeth  a  beast  shall  make  restitution  for  it ;  and  he 
that  killeth  a  man  shall  be  put  to  death. 

One  manner  of  judicial  law  shall  ye  have,  the  stranger  shall  be 
equal  with  one  of  your  own  country ;  for  I  am  the  Lord  your  God. 
(Leviticus  xxiv.  21-22.) 


4  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

8.  If  a  man  come  presumptuously  against  his  neighbor  to  slay 
him  with  guile,  from  my  altar  shalt  thou  take  him,  that  he  may  die. 

And  he  that  smiteth  his  father  or  his  mother  shall  surely  be  put  to 
death. 

And  he  that  curseth  his  father  or  his  mother  shall  surely  be  put  to 
death. 

And  if  men  strive  together,  and  one  smite  the  other  with  a  stone, 
or  with  the  fist  and  he  die  not  but  keepeth  his  bed : 

If  he  rise  again  and  walk  abroad  upon  his  crutch,  then  shall  he 
that  smote  him  be  quit ;  only  he  shall  pay  for  the  loss  of  his  time, 
and  shall  cause  him  to  be  thoroughly  healed.       (Exodus  xxi.  14-19.) 

9.  Cursed  be  he  that  smiteth  his  neighbor  secretly;  and  all  the 
people  shall  say,  Amen. 

Cursed  be  he  that  taketh  a  bribe  to  slay  a  person  in  innocent  blood, 
and  all  the  people  shall  say,  Amen.     (Deuteronomy  xxvii.  24-25.) 

III.— GUARD  THE  RIGHTS  OF  OTHERS. 

It  is  wrong  to  cheat  in  buying  or  selling.  It  is  wrong  to  deceive 
any  one  by  speaking  or  acting  lies.  All  the  more  is  it  wrong  to  rob 
either  in  secret  or  openly,  and  in  any  way  to  do  or  help  to  do  the 
least  thing  against  the  rights  of  other  people. 


"  Oh,  what  a  tangled  web  we  weave, 
When  first  we  practice  to  deceive." — Scott. 

"  Whatever  is  right  and  proper  for  some,  must  be  so  for  all." — I.  M. 

Wise. 


Show  that  this  is  true  from  the  following  or  any  other  stories  in  the 
Bible.  Examples:  Genesis  xix.  4-7  and  9-1 1  ;  Genesis  xxv.  28-34; 
Genesis  iv.  8-9;  Genesis  xxvii.  1-40;  Exodus  i.  8-14. 


1.     Thou   shalt    not    remove    the    landmark    of    thy     neighbor. 
(Deuteronomy  xix.  14.) 


DUTIES    TOWARD    OUR    FELLOW-MEN.  5 

2.  Cursed  be  he  that  removeth  the  landmark  of  his  neighbor; 
and  all  the  people  shall  say,  Amen.      (Deuteronomy  xxvii.  17.) 

3.  Remove  not  the  ancient  landmark,  and  into  the  fields  of  the 
fatherless  must  thou  not  enter,  for  their  redeemer  is  strong ;  he  will 
indeed  plead  their  cause  with  thee.     (Proverbs  xxiii.  10-11.) 

4.  When  thou  comest  into  thy  neighbor's  vineyard  thou  mayest 
eat  grapes  at  thine  own  pleasure,  till  thou  have  enough ;  but  into  thy 
vessel  shalt  thou  not  put  any. 

When  thou  comest  into  the  standing  corn  of  thy  neighbor,  thou 
mayest  pluck  ears  with  thy  hand;  but  with  a  sickle  shalt  thou  not 
move  over  thy  neighbor's  standing  corn.  (Deuteronomy  xxviii.  25-26.) 

5.  If  thou  sell  aught  unto  thy  neighbor,  or  buy  aught  of  thy 
neighbor's  hand,  ye  shall  not  overreach  one  the  other.  (Leviticus 
xxv.  14.) 

6.  And  if  a  stranger  sojourn  with  thee  in  your  land,  ye  shall  not 
vex  him. 

As  one  born  in  the  land  among  you,  shall  be  unto  you  the  stran- 
ger that  sojourneth  with  you,  and  thou  shalt  love  him  as  thyself;  for 
ye  were  strangers  in  the  land  of  Egypt;  I  am  the  Lord  your  God- 
(Leviticus  xix.  33-34.) 

7.  The  wicked  borroweth',  and  repayeth  not;  but  the  righteous  is 
beneficent  and  giveth.      (Psalm  xxxvii.  21. ) 

8.  Balances  of  deceit  are  an  abomination  of  the  Lord;  but  a  full 
weight  (obtaineth)  his  favor.      ^  Proverbs  xi.  1.) 

9.  Divers  weights  are  an  abomination  of  the  Lord ;  and  a  de- 
ceitful balance  is  not  good.      (Proverbs  xx.  23.) 

10.  Thou  shalt  not  have  in  thy  bag  divers  weights,  a  great  and  a 
small. 

Thou  shalt  not  have  in  thy  house  divers  measures,  a  great  and  a 
small. 

A  perfect  and  just  weight  shalt  thou  have  ;  a  perfect  and  just  meas- 
ure shalt  thou  have ;  in  order  that  thy  days  may  be  prolonged  in  the 
land  the  Lord  thy  God  giveth  thee. 


6  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

For  an  abomination  of  the  Lord  is  every  one  that  doth  such  things, 
every  one  that  acteth  unrighteously.      (Deuteronomy  xxv.  13-16.) 

11.  Ye  shall  not  do  unrighteousness  in  judgment,  in  meteyard,  in 
weight,  or  in  measure.     (Leviticus  xix.  35.) 

12.  Whoso  divideth  with  a  thief  hateth  his  own  soul;  he  heareth 
the  adjuration  and  dareth  not  to  tell.     (Proverbs  xxix.  24.) 

13.  Ye  shall  not  steal;  neither  shall  ye  deny  (another's  property  in 
your  hands),  nor  lie  one  to  another. 

Thou  shalt  not  withhold  anything  from  thy  neighbor,  nor  rob 
him;  there  shall  not  abide  with  thee  the  wages  of  him  that  is  hired, 
through  the  night  until  morning.     (Leviticus  xix.  11-13.) 

14  Woe  to  those  that  devise  wickedness,  and  resolve  on  evil  upon 
their  couches !  by  the  first  light  of  the  morning  they  execute  it,  if 
they  have  it  in  the  power  of  their  hand.      (Micha  ii.  1. ) 

15.  Thus  hath  said  the  Lord  :  Exercise  justice  on  (every)  morning, 
and  deliver  him  that  is  robbed  out  of  the  hand  of  the  oppressor;  lest 
my  fury  go  forth  like  fire  and  burn  so  that  none  can  quench  it, 
because  of  the  evil  of  your  doings.      (Jeremiah  xxi.  12. ) 

16.  He  that  declareth  the  wicked  innocent  and  he  that  condemneth 
the  righteous,  yea  both  of  them  are  equally  an  abomination  of  the 
Lord.      (Proverbs  xvii.  15.) 

17.  Contrive  not  against  thy  neighbor  any  evil,  when  he  dwelleth 
in  safety  with  thee.     (Proverbs  iii.  29.) 

IV.— HELP  THE  NEEDY. 

We  should  help  along  those  who  are  not  as  well  off  as  we  are. 
Give  to  every  one  a  chance  to  live  and  improve  in  body  and  mind 
A  share  of  all  we  own  really  belongs  to  the  poor  and  needy,  and 
we  should  freely  give  to  them. 


"  This  mournful  truth  is  everywhere  confessed, 
Slow  rises  worth  by  poverty  depressed."—  Samuel  Johnson. 
"  Every  person  has  a  right  to  live,  hence  also  to  the  means  of  support.   If 
one  has  more  than  he  needs  he  owes  support  to  him  who  needs  it.  To  refuse 


DUTIES    TOWARD    OUR    FELLOW  MEN. 


it  is  indirect  robbery.  The  state,  county  or  municipality  must  provide  for 
its  poor.  To  render  immediate  help  where  it  is  necessary  is  the  duty  of 
every  feeling  person." — I.  M.  Wise. 


Show  that  this  is  true  from  the  following  or  any  other  stories  in  the 
Bible:  Examples:  Genesis  xviii.  23-32;  Genesis  xxiv.  17-20;  Gen- 
esis xli.  9-1 1  ;  Exodus  ii.  16-20;   Ruth  ii.  9-14. 


1.  Withhold  not  a  benefit  from  him  who  is  deserving  of  it,  when 
it  is  in  the  power  of  thy  hand  to  do  it. 

Say  not  unto  thy  neighbor,  Go  and  return,  and  to-morrow  will  I 
give,  when  thou  hast  it  by  thee.      (Proverbs  iii.  27-28.) 

If  there  be  among  thee  a  needy  man  any  one  of  thy  brethren  within 
any  of  thy  gates  in  thy  land  which  the  Lord  thy  God  giveth  thee, 
thou  shalt  not  harden  thy  heart,  nor  shut  thy  land  from  thy  needy 
brother. 

But  thou  shalt  open  wide  thy  hand  unto  him,  and  thou  shalt  surely 
lend  him  sufficient  for  his  need,  which  his  want  requireth. 

Thou  shalt  surely  give  him,  and  thy  heart  shall  not  be  grieved 
when  thou  givest  unto  him ;  for  because  of  this  thing  the  Lord  thy 
God  will  bless  thee  in  all  thy  work,  and  in  all  the  acquisition  of  thy 
hand. 

For  the  needy  will  not  cease  out  of  the  land ;  therefore  do  I  com- 
mand thee,  saying  :  Thou  shalt  open  wide  thy  hand  unto  thy  brother, 
to  thy  poor,  and  to  thy  needy,  in  thy  land.  (Deuteronomy  xv.  7,  8,. 
10,  11.) 

3.  When  thou  dost  lend  thy  brother  anything  as  a  loan,  thou  shalt 
not  go  into  his  house  to  take  his  pledge. 

And  if  he  be  a  poor  man  thou  shalt  not  lie  down  with  his  pledge. 

Thou  shalt  punctually  deliver  him  the  pledge  again  when  the  sun 
goeth  down,  that  he  may  lie  under  his  own  cover,  and  bless  thee ; 
and  unto  thee  shall  it  be  as  righteousness  before  the  Lord  thy  God. 
(Deuteronomy  xxiv.  10-13.) 


8  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

4.  And  when  ye  reap  the  harvest  of  your  land,  thou  shalt  not 
wholly  reap  the  corners  of  thy  field,  neither  shalt  thou  gather  up  the 
gleanings  of  thy  harvest. 

And  thou  shalt  not  glean  thy  vineyard,  and  the  single  grapes  that 
drop  in  thy  vineyard  shalt  thou  not  gather  up  ;  for  the  poor  and  the 
stranger  shalt  thou  leave  them ;  I  am  the  Lord  your  God.  (Leviticus 
xix.  9-10.) 

5.  When  thou  cuttest  down  thy  harvest  in  the  field,  and  forgettest 
a  sheaf  in  the  field,  thou  shalt  not  go  back  to  fetch  it ;  for  the  stranger, 
for  the  fatherless,  and  for  the  widow  shall  it  be;  in  order  that  the  Lord 
thy  God  may  bless  thee  in  all  the  work  of  thy  hands. 

When  thou  beatest  thy  olive-tree,  thou  shalt  not  go  over  the  boughs 
again,  for  the  stranger,  for  the  fatherless,  and  for  the  widow  shall 
it  be. 

When  thou  gatherest  the  grapes  of  thy  vineyard,  thou  shalt  not  glean 
the  small  fruit  afterward ;  for  the  stranger,  for  the  fatherless,  and  for 
the  widow  shall  it  be.      (Deuteronomy  xxiv.  19-21.) 

6.  Is  it  not  to  distribute  thy  bread  to  the  hungry,  and  that  thou 
bring  the  afflicted  poor  into  thy  house  ?  when  thou  seest  the  naked, 
that  thou  clothe  him?  and  that  thou  hide  not  thyself  from  thine  own 
flesh? 

Then  shall  break  forth  as  the  morning-dawn  thy  light,  and  thy  heal- 
ing shall  speedily  spring  forth  j  and  before  thee  shall  go  thy  righteous- 
ness, the  glory  of  the  Lord  shall  be  thy  reward.     (Isaiah  lviii.  7-8.) 

7.  Because  I  delivered  the  poor  that  cried,  and  the  fatherless,  yea, 
that  had  none  to  help  him. 

The  blessing  of  him  that  was  ready  to  perish  came  upon  me,  and 
the  heart  of  the  widow  I  caused  to  sing  for  joy. 

I  took  righteousness  as  my  garment,  and  it  clothed  me ;  as  a  robe 
.and  a  mitre  was  justice  unto  me. 

Eyes  was  I  to  the  blind,  and  feet  to  the  lame  was  I. 

A  father  was  I  to  the  needy,  and  the  cause  of  him  I  knew  not  I 
used  to  investigate.     (Job  xxix.  12-16.) 


DUTIES    TOWARD    OUR    FELLOW-MEN.  9 

V.— DO  NOT  SPEAK  OR  PLOT  EVIL  AGAINST  ANY  ONE. 

Most  of  the  troubles  that  people  have  come  from  idle  talk,  with 
which  they  fill  up  their  time,  instead  of  doing  their  duties.  Say  noth- 
ing about  your  neighbor  unless  you  can  say  what  is  good.  Try  to  put 
yourself  in  another's  place  before  you  judge  him.     Never  flatter. 


u  Evil  is  wrought  by  want  of  thought 
As  well  as  want  of  heart." — Hood. 
The  evil  that  men  do  lives  after  them." — Shakespeare. 


Show  the  truth  of  the  above  in  the  following  or  other  stories  in  the 
Bible:  Examples:  Genesis  xxxvii.  ;  Numbers  xii.  i-ii  and  13-15; 
Genesis  xxvii.  7-40;  Numbers  xiii.,  xiv.,  xxii.,  xxiii.,  xxiv. ;  I.Kings 
iii.;  Esther  ii.,  x. 


1.  Come,  ye  children,  hearken  unto  me;  the  fear  of  the  Lord  will 
I  teach  you. 

Who  is  the  man  that  desireth  life,  loveth  (many)  days,  that  he  may 
see  happiness  ? 

Guard  thy  tongue  from  evil,  and  thy  lips  from  speaking  deceit. 

Depart  from  evil,  and  do  good;  seek  peace,  and  pursue  it.  (Psalms 
xxxiv.  12-15.) 

2.  A  source  of  life  is  the  mouth  of  righteousness  ;  but  the  mouth  of 
the  wicked  covereth  violence.     (Proverbs  x.  11.) 

3.  Death  and  life  are  in  the  power  of  the  tongue,  and  they  that  love 
it  will  eat  its  fruit.     (Proverbs  xviii.  21.) 

4.  The  lips  of  the  righteous  feed  many ;  but  fools  die  through  lack 
of  sense.     (Proverbs  x.  21.) 

5.  The  heart  of  the  wise  maketh  his  mouth  intelligent,  and  upon 
his  lips  he  increaseth  information. 

(Like)  the  droppings  of  honey  are  pleasant  sayings,  sweet  to  the 
soul,  healing  to  the  bones.     (Proverbs  xvi.  23-24. ) 

6.  From  the  fruit  of  a  man's  mouth  doth  he  eat  what  is  good;  but 
the  longing  of  the  treacherous  is  for  violence. 


IO  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

He  that  watcheth  his  mouth  guardeth  his  soul;  but  he  that  openeth 
wide  his  lips  (prepareth)  himself  destruction.     (Proverbs  xiii.  2-3.) 

7.  Whoso  guardeth  his  mouth  and  his  tongue,  guardeth  his  soul 
against  distresses.     (Proverbs  xxi.  23.) 

8.  A  man  hath  joy  by  the  answer  of  his  mouth;  and  a  word  (spoken) 
at  the  proper  time,  how  good  is  it !     (Proverbs  xv.  23.) 

9.  Like  apples  of  gold  among  figures  of  silver  is  a  word  spoken  in 
a  proper  manner.      (Proverbs  xxv.  n.) 

10.  Men  will  kiss  the  lips  of  him  that  giveth  a  proper  answer. 
(Proverbs  xxiv.  26.) 

1 1.  Speak  not  before  the  ears  of  a  fool ;  for  he  will  despise  the  intel- 
ligence of  thy  words.     (Proverbs  xxiii.  9.) 

12.  Do  not  answer  a  fool  according  to  his  folly,  lest  thou  also  be- 
come equal  unto  him. 

Answer  a  fool  according  to  his  folly,  lest  he  be  wise  in  his  own  eyes. 
(Proverbs  xxvi.  4-5.) 

13.  In  a  multitude  of  words  transgression  can  not  be  avoided;  but 
he  that  refraineth  his  lips  is  intelligent.     (Proverbs  x.  19.) 

14.  He  that  holdeth  back  his  speeches  hath  knowledge;  and  he 
that  is  sparing  of  his  spirit  is  a  man  of  understanding. 

Even  a  fool,  when  he  keepeth  silence,  is  counted  wise;  he  that 
shutteth  his  lips  (is  esteemed)  a  man  of  understanding.  (Proverbs 
xvii.  27-28.) 

15.  In  the  transgression  of  his  lips  is  the  snare  of  the  wicked;  but 
the  righteous  cometh  out  of  distress.     (Proverbs  xii.  13.) 

16.  A  fool  hath  no  delight  in  understanding,  but  in  laying  open 
what  is  in  his  heart.     ( Proverbs  xviii.  2.) 

17.  Seest  thou  a  man  that  is  hasty  in  his  words  ?  there  is  more  hope 
for  a  fool  than  for  him.      (Proverbs  xxix.  20.) 

18.  A  fool  uttereth  all  his  mind;  but  the  wise  holdeth  it  back. 
(Proverbs  xxix.  11.) 

19.  I  said  I  will  guard  my  ways  that  I  sin  not  with  my  tongue:  I 
will  guard  my  mouth  with  a  muzzle  while  the  wicked  is  before  me. 
( Psalm  xxxix.  2.) 


DUTIES   TOWARD    OUR    FELLOW-MEN.  II 

20.  For  truth  uttereth  my  palate  ever,  and  the  abomination  of  my 
lips  is  wickedness.      (Proverbs  viii.  7.) 

21.  What  is  gone  out  of  thy  lips   shalt  thou  keep  and  perform. 
(Deuteronomy  xxiii.  24.) 

22.  Like  silver  dross  laid  over  an  earthen  vessel,  so  are  burning  lips 
with  a  bad  heart.     (Proverbs  xxvi.  23.) 

23.  A  wicked  messenger  falleth  into  unhappiness;  but  a  faithful 
embassador  (bringeth)  healing.     (Proverbs  xiii.  17.) 

24.  He  that  hath  a  froward  heart  will  not  find  happiness;  and  he 
that  hath  a  perverse  tongue  will  fall  into  evil.     (Proverbs  xvii.  20.) 

25.  Remove  from  the  frowardness  of  mouth;  and  perverseness  of 
lips  put  away  far  from  thee.     (Proverbs  iv.  24.) 

26.  He  that  despiseth  his  neighbor  is  void  of  sense;  but  a  man  of 
understanding  maintaineth  silence.     (Proverbs  xi.  12.) 

27.  Carry  on  thy  cause  with  thy  neighbor;  but  lay  not  open  the 
secret  of  another.     (Proverbs  xxv.  9.) 

28.  He  that  walketh  about  as  tale-bearer  revealeth  secrets;  but  he 
that  is  of  a  faithful  spirit  concealeth  the  matter.     (Proverbs  xi.  13.) 

29.  He  that  goeth  about  as  a  tale-bearer  revealeth  secrets;  there- 
fore meddle  not  with  him  that  enticeth  with  his  lips.     ( Proverbs  xx. 

i9.) 

30.  Thou  shalt  not  go  up  and  down  as  a  tale-bearer  among  thy  peo- 
ple.    (Leviticus  xix.  16.) 

31.  O  Lord,  deliver  my  soul  from  lips  of  falsehood,  and  from  a 
tongue  of  deceit. 

What  will  (God)  give  unto  thee?  or  what  will  he  add  unto  thee, 
thou  tongue  of  deceit  ?     ( Psalms  cxx.  2-3. ) 

32.  An  abomination  of  the  Lord  are  lips  of  falsehood;  but  they 
that  deal  in  faithfulness  (obtain)  His  favor.     (Proverbs  xii.  22.) 

33.  The  lip  of  truth  will  stand  firm  forever;  but  only  for  a  moment 
the  tongue  of  falsehood.     (Proverbs  xii.  19.) 

34.  The  righteous  hateth  the  word  of  falsehood;  but  the  wicked 
bringeth  shame  and  dishonor.     (Proverbs  xiii.  5.) 


12  BIBLE    ETHICS. 


35.  A  faithful  witness  will  not  lie;  but  a  false  witness  constantly 
uttereth  lies.     (Proverbs  xi v.  5.) 

"36.  A  deliverer  of  souls  is  the  true  witness  ;  but  a  witness  of  deceit 
uttereth  lies.     (Proverbs  xiv.  25.) 

37.  A  false  witness  shall  not  remain  unpunished,  and  he  that  utter- 
eth lies  shall  perish.     (Proverbs  xix.  9.) 

38.  And  if  any  person  sin,  because  he  heareth  the  voice  of  adjura- 
tion, and  he  is  a  witness,  since  he  hath  either  seen  or  knoweth  some- 
thing; if  he  do  not  tell  it,  and  thus  bear  his  iniquity.     (Leviticus 

V.    I.) 

39.  If  a  witness  of  violence  rise  up  against  any  man  to  testify 
against  him  for  any  wrong ; 

Then  shall  both  the  men,  who  have  the  controversy,  stand  before 
the  Lord,  before  the  priests  and  judges  who  shall  be  in  those  days. 

And  the  judges  shall  inquire  diligently;  and  behold  if  the  witness 
be  a  false  witness,  he  hath  testified  a  falsehood  against  his  brother : 

Then  shall  ye  do  unto  him  as  he  had  purposed  to  do  unto  his 
brother;  and  thou  shalt  put  away  the  evil  from  the  midst  of  thee. 

And  those  who  remain  shall  hear  and  be  afraid,  and  shall  hence- 
forth commit  no  more  any  such  evil  thing  in  the  midst  of  thee.  (Deu- 
teronomy xix.  16-20.) 

40.  And  I  commanded  your  judges  at  that  time,  saying,  Hear  the 
causes  between  your  brethren,  and  judge  righteously  between  a  man 
and  his  brother,  and  between  his  stranger. 

Ye  shall  not  respect  persons  in  judgment;  the  small  as  well  as  the 
great  shall  ye  hear;  ye  shall  not  be  afraid  of  any  man;  for  the  judg- 
ment belongeth  to  God.    (Deuteronomy  i.  16-17.) 

41.  Thou  shalt  not  receive  a  false  report;  put  not  thy  hand  with 
the  wicked  to  be  an  unrighteous  witness. 

Thou  shalt  not  follow  a  multitude  to  do  evil ;  neither  shalt  thou 
speak  in  cause,  to  incline  after  many,  to  wrest  judgment. 

Neither  shalt  thou  countenance  a  poor  man  in  his  cause. 

Thou  shalt  not  wrest  the  judgment  of  thy  poor  in  his  cause.  (Ex- 
odus xxiii.  1-3.) 


DUTIES    TOWARD    OUR    FELLOW  MEN.  1 3 

42.  Keep  thyself  far  from  a  false  speech ;  and  him  who  hath  been  de- 
clared innocent  and  righteous  thou  shalt  not  slay  ;  for  I  will  not  justify 
the  wicked. 

And  thou  shalt  take  no  bribe ;  for  the  bribe  blindeth  the  clear- 
sighted, and  perverteth  the  words  of  the  righteous.  (Exodus  xxiii. 
6-8.) 

43.  These  are  the  things  that  ye  shall  do,  Speak  ye  the  truth  every 
man  to  his  neighbor;  (with)  truth  and  the  judgment  of  peace  judge 
ye  in  your  gates ; 

And  let  none  of  you  think  evil  in  your  hearts  against  his  neighbor; 
and  love  not  a  false  oath ;  for  all  these  are  what  I  hate,  saith  the  Lord. 
(Zachariah  viii.  16-17.) 

44.  A  godless  person  is  a  man  of  injustice,  who  walketh  with  a  dis- 
torted mouth. 

He  blinketh  with  his  eyes,  he  scrapeth  with  his  feet,  he  pointeth 
with  his  fingers. 

Perverseness  is  in  his  heart,  he  contriveth  evil  at  all  times;  he  scat- 
tereth  abroad  discord. 

Therefore  shall  suddenly  come  his  calamity;  unawares  shall  he  be 
broken,  without  a  remedy. 

Six  things  there  are  which  the  Lord  hateth ;  and  seven  are  an  abom- 
ination unto  his  spirit. 

Haughty  eyes,  a  tongue  of  falsehood,  and  hands  that  shed  innocent 
blood. 

A  heart  that  contriveth  plans  of  injustice,  feet  that  hasten  to  run 
after  evil. 

A  false  witness  that  eagerly  uttereth  lies,  and  him  that  scattereth 
abroad  discord  among  brethren.     (Proverbs  vi.  12-19.) 

45.  With  his  mouth  doth  the  hypocrite  destroy  his  neighbor;  but 
through  knowledge  are  the  righteous  delivered.     (Proverbs  xi.  9.) 

46.  So  are  the  paths  of  all  that  forget  God;  and  the  hope  of  the 
hypocrite  will  perish.     (Job  viii.  13.) 

47.  For  the  assembly  of  hypocrites  will  remain  desolate,  and  fire 
will  consume  the  tents  of  bribery.     (Job  xv.  34.) 


14  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

48.  Even  he  will  come  to  my  assistance;  for  a  hypocrite  can  not 
come  before  him.     (Job  xiii.  16.) 

49.  That  the  triumphal  shouting  of  the  wicked  is  ever  of  but  a 
recent  date,  and  the  joy  of  the  hypocrite  endureth  only  for  a  moment. 
(Job  xxv.  5.) 

50.  Hear  the  voice  of  my  supplication  when  I  cry  unto  thee,  when 
I  lift  up  my  hands  toward  the  most  holy  place  of  thy  sanctuary. 

Snatch  me  not  away  with  the  wicked,  and  with  the  workers  of  in- 
justice, who  speak  peace  with  their  neighbors  with  mischief  in  their 
heart.      (Psalms  xxviii.  2-3.) 

VI.— FORGIVE  AND  FORGET. 

AVe  degrade  ourselves  and  do  wrong  to  others  when  we  continue  to 
bear  ill-will  against  them. 

It  is  noble  to  forgive  the  wrong  done  us ;  it  is  our  duty  to  try  and 
forget  the  wrong  we  have  forgiven. 


"  Good  nature  and  good  sense  must  ever  join. 
To  err  is  human ;  to  forgive  divine." — Pope. 

"  The  more  we  know,  the  better  we  forgive, 
Whoe'er  feels  deeply,  feels  for  all  who  live." — Madame  de  Stael, 

11  For  it  is  sweet  to  stammer  one  letter 
Of  the  Eternal's  language — On  earth  it  is 
Called,  Forgiveness. ' ' — Longfellow. 


Show  the  truth  of  the  foregoing  from  the  following  or  any  other 
stories  in  the  Bible  :  Examples:  Genesis  xxxiii.  1-17  ;  Genesis  xlv.; 
Numbers  xii. ;  I.  Samuel  xxiv. ;  II.  Samuel  xviii.  24-33  >  !•  Samuel 
xxiv. ;  II.  Samuel  xviii.  33. 

1.  He  that  covereth  a  transgression  seeketh  love;  but  he  that 
•repeateth  a  matter  separateth  confident  friends.    (Proverbs  xvii.  9.) 

2.  Thou  shalt  not  hate  thy  brother  in  thy  heart ;  thou  shalt  indeed 


DUTIES    TOWARD    OUR    FELLOW-MEN.  1 5 

rebuke  thy  neighbor  and  not  bear  sin  on  account  of  him.      (Leviticus 
xix.  17.) 

3.  Say  not,  As  he  hath  done  to  me  so  will  I  do  to  him ;  I  will 
recompense  every  man  according  to  his  doing.     (Proverbs  xxiv.  29.) 

4.  Do  not  say,  I  will  recompense  evil;  (but)  wait  on  the  Lord,  and 
he  will  help  thee.     (Proverbs  xx.  22.) 

5.  If  thine  enemy  be  hungry,  give  him  bread  to  eat;  and  if  he  be 
thirsty,  give  him  water  to  drink ; 

For  though  thou  gatherest  coals  of  fire  upon  his  head,  yet  will  the 
Lord  repay  it  unto  thee.     (Proverbs  xxv.  21-22. ) 

6.  If  thou  meet  thine  enemy's  ox  or  his  ass  going  astray,  thou  shalt 
surely  bring  it  back  to  him  again. 

If  thou  see  the  ass  of  him  that  hateth  thee  lying  under  his  burden, 
and  wouldst  forbear  to  unload  him,  (thou  must  not  do  so,  but)  thou 
shalt  surely  unload  with  him.     (Exodus  xxiii.  4-5. ) 

7.  At  the  fall  of  thine  enemy  do  not  rejoice ;  and  at  his  stumbling 
let  not  thy  heart  be  glad.     (Proverbs  xxiv.  17. ) 

8.  This  also  were  an  iniquity  punishable  by  a  judge;  for  thus  would 
I  have  denied  the  God  that  is  above. 

If  I  ever  rejoice  at  the  downfall  of  him  that  hated  me,  or  was 
elated  when  evil  befell  him ; — 

But  I  suffered  not  my  mouth  to  sin  by  denouncing  with  a  curse  his 
soul.     (Job  xxxi.  28-30.) 

9.  When  the  Lord  receives  a  man's  ways  in  favor,  he  causeth  even 
his  enemies  to  be  at  peace  with  him.     (Proverbs  xvi.  7.) 


— of^ 


B.— DUTIES  TO  OURSELVES. 
I.— TAKE  CARE  OF  YOUR  LIFE  AND  HEALTH. 

The  most  wonderful  thing  in  the  world  is  our  own  life.  No  one 
can  explain  it.  Each  one  of  us  is  placed  here  in  the  world,  some  are 
strong,  some  are  weak ;  but  whatever  are  our  powers,  they  are  the 
gift  of  God,  and  may  give  us  great  joy  if  they  are  rightly  used.     > 

It  is  our  sacred  duty  to  care  for  this  life  which  God  has  lent  us. 
We  must  be  very  careful  of  our  bodies,  must  not  go  into  danger  fool- 
ishly, but  must  exercise  freely  in  the  open  air  and  do  everything  we 
can  to  keep  in  good  health  and  to  gain  strength. 

Without  good  health  and  strength  we  can  never  do  those  duties 
which  every  one  ought  to  do;  we  can  not  improve  our  minds  as  we 
should,  nor  can  we  be  of  as  much  good  to  others  as  we  ought  to  be. 
Therefore,  we  must  hold  it  to  be  our  first  duty  to  ourselves  to  take  care 
of  life  and  health. 


Know,  all  the  good  that  individuals  find, 

Or  God  and  nature  meant  to  mere  mankind, 

Reason's  whole  pleasure,  all  the  joys  of  sense, 

Lie  in  three  things— Health,  Peace  and  Competence." — Pope. 

A  sacred  burden  is  the  life  ye  bear, 
Look  on  it,  lift  it,  bear  it  solemnly, 
Stand  up  and  walk  beneath  it  steadfastly  ; 
Fail  not  for  sorrow,  falter  not  for  sin, 
But  onward,  upward,  till  the  goal  ye  win." 

— Frances  Anne  Kemble. 


Give  examples  from  your  own  observations  and  readings  : 

i.     Take  exceeding  good  care  of  yourselves.   (Deuteronomy  iv.  15.) 


DUTIES    TO    OURSELVES.  I  7 

2.  The  merciful  man  doeth  good  to  his  own  soul,  but  he  that  is 
cruel,  troubleth  his  own  flesh.      (Proverbs  xi.  17.) 

3.  Worriment  in  the  heart  of  man  maketh  it  droop,  but  a  good 
word  will  make  it  glad.      (Proverbs  xii.  25.  ) 

II.— BE  INDUSTRIOUS. 

Our  wise  men  said  :  "  Love  work.  Work  is  great,  for  it  supports 
man.  Work  is  great,  for  it  honors  man.  To  have  learning  and  not 
put  it  to  use  is  wrong.  He  who  fails  to  have  his  child  learn  some  use- 
ful trade,  brings  him  up  to  lead  a  sinful  life.  It  is  beautiful  to  have 
learning  and  yet  be  skillful  at  a  trade ;  the  use  of  both  together  will 
keep  one  from  sin.  Every  father  must  have  his  son  learn  the  law  of 
God  and  also  a  trade.     Man  is  born  to  work.  *' 

All  these  sayings  are  true.  Though  idleness  seems  pleasant,  yet  it 
surely  leads  to  sin  and  misery.  Only  through  working  can  we  be 
truly  happy.  By  working  we  earn  our  own  living  and,  so,  are  kept 
from  begging,  or  from  living  upon  the  means  of  others.  .  By  working 
we  get  strong  and  keep  our  health,  and  can  do  our  share  in  looking 
after  the  welfare  of  the  sick  and  the  helpless.  But  the  idler  neglects 
himself,  is  useless  to  others  and  is  easily  led  to  sin.  To  be  idle  is  a 
shame  ;  to  work  is  an  honor.  Indeed,  work  makes  us  more  and  more 
perfect,  tor,  as  our  teachers  have  again  said:  "Industry  brings 
purity;  purity,  cleanness;  cleanness,  holiness;  holiness,  humbleness  ; 
humbleness,  fear  of  sin;  fear  of  sin,  Godliness." 


"  Absence  of  occupation  is  not  rest, 
A  mind  quite  vacant  is  a  mind  distressed." — Cowper. 

Example:     Genesis  xxxii.  10-12. 


1.     Sweet  is  the  sleep  of  the  laboring  man,  whether  he  eat  little  01 


1 8  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

much ;  but  the  abundance  of  the  rich  will   not  permit  him  to  sleep. 
( Ecclesiastes  v.  n.) 

2.  And  the  Lord  God  took  the  man  and  put  him  in  the  garden  of 
Eden  to  work  it  and  to  guard  it.     (Genesis  ii.  15.) 

3.  In  the  sweat  of  thy  face  shalt  thou  eat  bread.    (Genesis  hi.  19.) 

4.  He  that  tilleth  his  land  shall  be.  satisfied  with  bread ;  but  he 
that  folio weth  vain  persons  is  void  of  understanding.  (Proverbs  xii  11.) 

5.  Love  not  sleep  lest  thou  come  to  poverty  ;  open  thine  eyes  and 
thou  shalt  be  satisfied  with  bread.     (Proverbs  xx.  13.) 

6.  He  becometh  poor  that  dealeth  with  a  slack  hand;  but  the 
hand  of  the  diligent  maketh  rich.  He  that  gathereth  in  summer  is  a 
wise  son;  but  he  that  sleepeth  in  harvest  is  a  son  that  causeth  shame. 
(Proverbs  x.  4-5.) 

7.  The  hand  of  the  diligent  shall  rule  ;  but  the  slothful  shall  be 
under  tribute.     (Proverbs  xii.  24.) 

8.  For  thou  shalt  eat  the  labor  of  thy  hands ;  happy  shalt  thou 
be  and  it  shall  be  well  with  thee.     (Psalms  cxxviii.  2. ) 

9.  In  order  that  the  Lord  thy  God  may  bless  thee  in  all  the  work 
of  thy  hand  which  thou  doeth.     (Deuteronomy  xiv.  29  ) 

10.  Seest  thou  a  man  diligent  in  his  work,  before  kings  he  shall 
stand.      ( Proverbs  xxii.  29.) 

11.  Prepare  thy  work  without,  and  make  it  fit  for  thyself  in  the 
field,  and  afterward  build  thy  house.      (Proverbs  xxiv.  27.) 

12.  He  that  tilleth  his  land  shall  have  plenty  of  bread  ;  but  he  that 
folio  weth  after  vain  persons  shall  have  poverty  enough.  (Proverbs 
xxviii.  19. ) 

13.  On -account  of  the  cold  the  sluggard  will  not  plow;  therefore, 
shall  he  beg  in  the  harvest  and  shall  have  nothing.    (Proverbs  xx.  4.) 

14.  By  the  field  of  a  slothful  man  I  passed  and  by  the  vineyard  of 
a  man  void  of  understanding.  And  lo  !  it  was  all  grown  over  with 
thorns,  and  nettles  had  covered  the  face  thereof,  and  the  stone  fence 
thereof  was  broken  down.  Then  I  saw  and  considered  it  well,  I 
looked  upon  it  and  received  instruction.     (Proverbs  xxiv.  30-32.) 

15.  Go  to  the  ant,  thou  sluggard,  consider  her  ways  and  be  wise. 


DUTIES    TO    OURSELVES. 


19 


Which,  having  no  guide,  overseer  or  ruler,  provideth  in  the  summer 
her  bread,  and  gathereth  in  the  hardest  her  food.  How  long,  oh 
sluggard,  wilt  thou  sleep,  when  wilt  thou  arise  from  thy  slumbers'? 
Yet  a  little  sleep,  a  little  slumber,  a  little  folding  of  the  hands  in  sleep. 
So  shall  thy  poverty  come  like  a  traveler,  and  thy  want  as  an  armed 
man.     (Proverbs  vi.  6-1 1 . ) 

16.  Slothfulness  casts  into  a  deep  pit,  and  an  idle  soul  shall  suffer 
hunger.     (Proverbs  xix.  15.  ) 

17.  The  longing  of  the  slothful  one  killeth  him,  for  his  hands  re- 
fuse to  work.      (Proverbs  xxi.  25.  ) 

18.  By  much  slothfulness  the  beams  will  decay,  and  through  idle- 
ness of  the  hands,  the  house  will  drop  through.     ( Ecclesiastes  x.  18.  ) 

19.  He  also  that  is  slothful  in  his  work  is  brother  to  him  that  is  a 
great  waster.     (Proverbs  xviii.  9.  ) 

20.  The  way  of  the  slothful  man  is  as  a  hedge  of  thorns ;  but  the 
way  of  the  righteous  is  made  level.     (Proverbs  xv.  19.) 

21.  The  slothful  man  says :  "There  is  a  lion  without;  I  shall  be 
slain  in  the  streets."     (Proverbs  xxii.  13.) 

22.  The  slothful  man  says:  "  There  is  a  lion  in  the  way,  a  lion  is 
in  the  streets.  As  the  door  turneth  on  its  hinges  so  doth  the  slothful 
upon  his  bed.  The  slothful  hideth  his  hand  in  his  bosom ;  it  wearieth 
him  to  bring  it  again  to  his  mouth.  The  sluggard  is  wiser  in  his  own 
conceit  than  seven  men  that  can  give  a  reason.    (Proverbs  xxvi.  13-16. ) 

III.- BE  TEMPERATE  AND  CHASTE. 

Enjoy  the  gifts  of  nature,  God  has  given  them  to  us  that  we  may 
enjoy  them.  But  they  will  not  be  enjoyable  unless  we  are  moderate 
and  reasonable  in  their  use.  Too  much  of  anything  is  not  good.  Be 
chaste,  that  is.  be  pure  of  heart  in  all  your  desires  and  then  you  will 
be  temperate  in  all  your  enjoyments. 


Where  lives  the  man  that  has  not  tried 
How  mirth  can  into  folly  glide, 
And  folly  into  sin?"— Scott. 


20  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

"Well  observe 
The  rule  of  not  too  much,  by  temperance  taught 
In  what  thou  eat'st  and  drink 'st." — Milton. 


Examples:     I.  Samuel  ii.  12-17. 


1.  Keep  thy  heart  with  all  diligence;  for  out  of  it  are  the  issues 
of  life.     (Proverbs  iv.  23.) 

2.  All  the  days  of  the  afflicted  are  evil;  but  he  that  is  of  good 
heart  hath  a  feast  continually.     (Proverbs  xv.  15.) 

3.  And  thou  shalt  rejoice  in  every  good  thing  which  the  Lord  thy 
God  hath  given  unto  thee  and  unto  thy  house,  thou  and  the  Levite 
and  the  stranger  that  is  among  you.     (Deuteronomy  xxvi.   11.) 

4.  And  thou  shalt  rejoice  before  the  Lord  thy  God  in  all  that  thou 
puttest  thy  hand  unto.      (Deuteronomy  xii.  18.) 

5.  And  the  land  shall  yield  her  fruit  and  ye  may  eat  your  fill. 
(Leviticus  xxv.  19.) 

6.  It  is  not  go.od  to  eat  much  honey.     (Proverbs  xxv.  27.) 

7.  According  to  their  pasture  so  they  were  filled  ;  they  were  filled 
and  their  heart  was  exalted;  therefore,  have  they  forgotten  me. 
(Hosea  xiii.  6.) 

8.  Woe  unto  them  that  rise  early  in  the  morning  in  order  that  they 
may  follow  strong  drink ;  that  continue  until  night  till  wine  inflame 
them  !  And  the  harp  and  the  viol,  and  the  tabret  and  pipe  and  wine 
are  in  their  feasts,  but  they  regard  not  the  work  of  God  and  the  do- 
ings of  his  hands  they  do  not  see.     (Isaiah  v.  11-12.) 

9.  Woe  unto  them  that  are  mighty  to  drink  wine  and  men  of  valor 
to  mix  strong  drink.     (Isaiah  v.  22.) 

10.  Wine  is  a  mocker,  strong  drink  is  raging;  whosoever  is  de- 
ceived thereby  is  not  wise.     (Proverbs  xx.  1.) 

11.  A  man  of  want  shall  he  become  that  loveth  pleasure;  he  that 
loveth  wine  and  oil  shall  not  be  rich.     (Proverbs  xxi.  17.) 

12.  Be  not  among  wine-bibbers;  among  riotous  eaters  of  flesh. 
For  the  drunkard  and  glutton  shall  come  to  poverty,  and  drowsiness 
shall  clothe  a  man  with  rags.      (Proverbs  xxiii.  20-21.) 


DUTIES    TO    OURSELVES.  21 

13.  Who  hath  woe?  Who  hath  sorrow?  Who  hath  quarreling? 
Who  hath  idle  talk  ?  Who  hath  wounds  without  cause  ?  Who  hath 
redness  of  eyes  ?  They  that  tarry  long  at  the  wine  ;  those  that  go  to 
seek  mixed  wine.  Look  not  thou  upon  the  wine  when  it  is  red,  when  it 
giveth  to  the  cup  its  color,  when  it  goeth  down  smoothly.  At  last  it 
biteth  like  a  serpent  and  stingeth  like  an  adder.  (Proverbs  xxiii. 
29-32.) 

14.  Whoso  keepeth  the  law  is  a  wise  son;  but  he  that  is  a  compan- 
ion of  riotous  men  shameth  his  father.      (Proverbs  xxviii.  7.  ) 

IV.— BE  MASTER  OF  YOUR  TEMPER. 

In  speaking  and  in  answering  we  should  always  be  calm,  patient, 
peaceful  and  gentle  to  our  companions  .and  relatives,  as,  indeed,  to 
every  one,  high  or  low,  rich  or  poor.  "He  who  can  always  do  this," 
said  one  of  our  wise  teachers,  M  will  be  beloved  in  heaven  as  well  as 
on  earth." 


"  Of  all  bad  things  by  which  mankind  are  cursed, 
Their  own  bad  tempers  surely  are  the  worst."— Cumberland. 

"  Control  your  passion  or  it  will  control  you."— Horace. 


1.  The  discretion  of  a  man  deferreth  his  anger,  and  it  is  his  glory 
to  pass  over  a  transgression.      (Proverbs  xix.  11.) 

2.  He  that  is  slow  to  wrath  is  of  great  understanding  j  but  he  that 
is  hasty  of  spirit  exalteth  folly.     (Proverbs  xiv.  29.) 

3.  A  soft  answer  turneth  away  wrath;  but  grievous  words  stir  up 
anger.      (Proverbs  xv.  1.) 

4.  By  long  forbearing  is  a  prince  persuaded,  and  a  soft  tongue 
breaketh  the  bone.      (Proverbs  xx v.  15.) 

5.  Strive  not  with  a  man  without  cause  if  he  have  done  thee  no 
harm.     (Proverbs  iii.  30. ) 

6.  And  Abram  said  unto  Lot:      "Let  there  be  no  strife,  I  pray 


2  2  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

thee,  between  me  and  thee,  and  between  my  herdsmen  and  thy  herds- 
men ;  for  we  be  brethren."     (Genesis  xiii.  8.) 

7.  Go  not  forth  hastily  to  strive,  lest  thou  know  not  what  to  do  in 
the  end  thereof,  when  thy  neighbor  hath  put  thee  to  shame.  ( Proverbs 
xxv.  8.) 

8.  He  that  passeth  by  and  meddleth  with  strife  belonging  not  to 
him,  is  like  one  that  taketh  a  dog  by  the  ears.      (Proverbs  xxvi.   17.) 

9.  He  loveth  transgression  that  loveth  strife,  and  he  that  exalteth 
his  gait  seeketh  destruction.      (Proverbs  xvii.  19.) 

10.  A  wrathful  man  stirreth  up  strife,  ;  but  he  that  is  slow  to  anger 
appeaseth  strife.      (Proverbs  xv.  18.) 

it.  Deceit  is  in  the  heart  of  them  that  imagine  evil;  but  to  the 
counselors  of  peace  is  joy.      (Proverbs  xii.  20.) 

12.  Better  is  a  dry  morsel  and  quietness  therewith  than  a  house  full 
of  sacrifices  with  strife.      (Proverbs  xvii.  1. ) 

13.  It  is  an  honor  for  a  man  to  cease  from  strife;  but  every  fool 
will  be  meddling.     (Proverbs  xx.  3. ) 

14.  A  fool's  wrath  is  presently  known;  but  a  prudent  man  covereth 
shame      (Proverbs  xii.   16.) 

15.  A  stone  is  heavy,  and  the  sand  weighty ;  but  a  fool's  wrath  is 
heavier  than  them  both.     (Proverbs  xxvii.  3. ) 

16.  Be  not  hasty  in  thy  spirit  to  be  angry;  for  anger  resteth  in  the 
bosom  of  fools.     (Ecclesiastes  vii.  9. ) 

17.  Cease  from  anger  and  forsake  wrath;  fret  not  thyself  in  any- 
wise to  do  evil.  For  evildoers  shall  be  cut  off;  but  those  that  wait 
upon  the  Lord,  they  shall  inherit  the  earth.     (Psalms  xxxvii.  8-9. ) 

18.  An  angry  man  stirreth  up  strife,  and  a  furious  man  aboundeth 
in  transgression.      (Proverbs  xxix.  22.) 

19.  As  coals  are  to  burning  coals,  and  wood  to  fire,  so  is  a  conten- 
tious man  to  kindle  strife.      (Proverbs  xxvi.  21.) 

20.  Make  no  friendship  with  an  angry  man;  and  with  a  furious 
man  thou  shalt  not  go;  lest  thou  learn  his  ways,  and  get  a  snare  to 
thy  soul.     (Proverbs  xxii.  24-25.) 


DUTIES    TO    OURSELVES.  23 

V.— DESERVE  HONOR  AND  GUARD  IT. 

Strive  always  to  be  manly  and  womanly.  To  be  so  you  must, 
above  all,  try  to  learn  for  yourself,  think  for  yourself,  speak  and  act 
for  yourself.  Do  not  follow  any  one  blindly.  Above  all,  do  nothing 
and  say  nothing  which  is  to  gain  you  favor  by  injuring  another.  Be 
no  hypocrite.  Live  up  to  what  you  believe  and  give  it  up  at  no  cost. 
Suffer  everything  rather  than  the  loss  of  your  honor.  If  you  thus 
strictly  keep  up  your  own  respect  and  honor,  others  will  feel  bound  to 
pay  you  honor. 

" There  are  three  crowns,"  said  our  teachers,  "the  crown  of  the 
king,  for  power,  the  crown  of  the  scholar,  for  learning,  the  crown  of 
the  priest,  for  holiness ;  but  there's  another,  the  crown  of  a  good 
name,  which  excels  them  all." 


"  Honor  is  purchased  by  deeds  we  do, 
*     *     *     *    honor  is  not  won, 
Until  some  honorable  deed  is  done." — Marlowe. 

"  When  honor  comes  to  you,  be  ready  to  take  it ; 
But  reach  not  to  seize  it  before  it  is  near." — John  Boyle  O'Reilly. 

"  Honor  and  shame  from  no  condition  rise  ; 
Act  well  your  part,  there  all  the  honor  lies." — Pope. 


1.  Better  is  the  poor  that  walketh  in  his  integrity  than  he  that  is 
perverse  in  his  lips,  and  is  a  fool.     (Proverbs  xix.  1.) 

2.  A  good  name  is  better  than  precious  ointment ;  and  the  day  of 
death  than  the  day  of  one's  birth.     (Ecclesiastes  vii.  i.) 

3.  A  good  name  is  rather  to  be  chosen  than  great  riches,  and  lov- 
ing favor  rather  than  silver  and  gold.     (Proverbs  xxii.  i.) 

4.  The  memory  of  the  just  is  blessed ;  but  the  name  of  the  wicked 
shall  rot.     (Proverbs  x.  7.) 


24  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

5.  As  snow  in  summer,  as  rain  in  harvest,  so  honor  is  not  seemly 
for  a  fool.      (Proverbs  xxvi.  1.) 

VI.— BE  MODEST  IN  ALL  THINGS. 

When  we  think  of  how  great  the  world  is,  and  how  small  we  are, 
when  we  look  out  over  the  land  with  its  endless  forms  of  trees  and 
plants  and  animals ;  still  more,  if  we  are  out  upon  the  vast  ocean  with 
nothing  but  water  to  be  seen,  only  over  head  the  thousands  of  glisten- 
ing stars  that  we  never  can  reach,  then  we  feel  deeply  how  great  God 
is  and  how  weak  man  is.  If  we  keep  this  feeling  always  awake  with- 
in us,  and  these  truths  always  before  our  minds,  it  will  make  us  hum- 
ble and  modest  in  all  our  aims,  words  and  conduct,  for  it  makes  us 
feel  that  pride,  overbearing  manners  and  conceit  are  vain,  foolish, 
silly  and  even  disgusting. 


;t  In  the  sweat  of  thy  face  shalt  thou  eat  bread, 
Till  thou  return  unto  ground ;  for  thou 
Out  of  the  ground  wast  taken ;  know  thy  birth, 
For  dust  thou  art,  and  shalt  to  dust  return." — Milton. 


Examples  :  Numbers  xi.  25-30.     I.  Samuel  xvii. 


1.  Let  another  man  praise  thee*  and  not  thine  own  mouth;  a 
stranger,  and  not  thine  own  lips.     (Proverbs  xxvii.  2.) 

2.  The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  instruction  of  wisdom  ;  and  before 
honor  is  humility.     (Proverbs  x v.  33.) 

3.  He  hath  shown  thee,  O  man,  what  is  good;  and  what  doth  the 
Lord  require  of  thee,  but  to  do  justly,  and  to  love  mercy  and  to  walk 
humbly  with  thy  God?     (Michavi.  8. ) 

4.  But  the  meek  shall  inherit  the  earth  ;  and  shall  delight  them- 
selves in  the  abundance  of  peace.     (Psalms  xxxvii.  it.) 


DUTIES   TO    OURSELVES-  25 

5.  The  meek  also  shall  increase  their  joy  in  the  Lord,  and  the  poor 
among  men  shall  rejoice  in  tjie  holy  one  of  Israel.     (Isaiah  xxix.  19.) 

6.  Seek  ye  the  Lord,  all  ye  meek  of  the  earth,  which  have  wrought 
his  judgment;  seek  righteousness,  seek  meekness;  it  may  be  ye  shall 
be  hid  in  the  days  of  the  Lord's  anger.     (Zephaniah  ii.  3. ) 

7.  When  pride  cometh,  then  cometh  shame;  but  with  the  lowly  is 
wisdom.     (Proverbs  xi.  2  ) 

8.  Put  not  forth  thyself  in  the  presence  of  the  king,  and  stand  not 
in  the  place  of  great  men ;  for  better  it  is  that  it  be  said  unto  thee, 
"  Come  up  hither,"  than  that  thou  shouldst  be  put  lower  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  prince  whom  thine  eyes  have  seen.      (Proverbs  xxv.  6-7.) 

9.  A  man's  pride  shall  bring  him  low  j  but  honor  shall  uphold  the 
humble  in  spirit.     (Proverbs  xxix.  23.) 

10.  Pride  goeth  before  destruction,  and  a  haughty  spirit  before  a 
fall.  Better  it  is  to  be  of  an  humble  spirit  with  the  lowly,  than  to  di- 
vide the  spoil  with  the  proud.     (Proverbs  xvi.  18-19.) 

11.  Every  one  that  is  proud  in  heart  is  an  abomination  to  the  Lord; 
though  hand  join  in  hand,  he  shall  not  be  unpunished.  (Proverbs 
xvi,  25.) 

12.  The  Lord  will  destroy  the  house  of  the  proud;  but  he  will  es- 
tablish the  border  of  the  widow.     (Proverbs  xv.  25.) 

13.  Now  the  man  Moses  was  very  meek,  above  all  the  men  which 
were  upon  the  face  of  the  earth.     (Numbers  xii.  3. ) 

14.  And  Moses  said  unto  God :  "  Who  am  I,  that  I  should  go  unto 
Pharoah,  and  that  I  should  bring  forth  the  children  of  Israel  out  of 
Egypt?"     (Exodus  iii.  11.) 

15.  And  Moses  said  unto  the  Lord:  "  O  my  Lord,  I  am  not  elo- 
quent, neither  heretofore,  nor  since  thou  hast  spoken  unto  thy  servant ; 
but  I  am  slow  of  speech,  and  of  a  slow  tongue."  And  he  said,  "O 
my  Lord,  send,  I  pray  thee,  by  the  hand  of  him  whom  thou  wilt 
send."     (Exodus  iv.  10,  13.) 

16.  And  Moses  said  unto  him  :  "Art  thou  so  zealous  for  me  ?  would 
to  God  that  all  the  Lord's  people  were  prophets,  and  that  the  Lord 
would  put  his  spirit  upon  them."     (Numbers  xi.  29.) 


26  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

VIL— KEEP  PURE  COMPANIONS. 

We  are  judged  by  the  company  we  keep.  Associate,  therefore, 
only  with  those  who  are  good  and  those  who  are  sensible  and  wise,  so 
that  you  may  become  like  them.  Have  the  courage  to  say  ''No," 
when  you  are  tempted  into  evil  ways.  Tremble  before  the  first  mis- 
step, for  after  it  is  made  there  are  but  a  few  strides  before  your  fall. 
Many  think  that  they  may  go  into  the  company  of  evildoers  but  with- 
draw when  they  please.  This  is  nofc  so.  Once  we  begin  we  are 
counted  with  them  and  can  rarely  get  away ;  soon  the  best  of  us  be- 
come bad,  however  well  we  are  brought  up  at  home  and  in  school. 

Be  not  thoughtless;  think  of  the  great  grief  he  brings  upon  his  par- 
ents, relatives,  teachers  and  friends,  and  how  miserable  he  makes  him- 
self, who  goes  into  bad  company  and  at  last  comes  to  shame,  who  is 
disgraced  in  public  before  all  people  and  in  private  before  his  own 
conscience. 


Vice  is  a  monster  of  so  frightful  mien, 

As  to  be  hated,  needs  but  to  be  seen  ; 

Yet  seen  too  oft,  familiar  with  her  face 

We  first  endure,  then  pity,  then  embrace." — Pope 


Examples:  I.  Kings  xii.  ;  II.  Chronicles xxii.  ;  Numbers xi.  24-29. 


1.  A  man  that  hath  friends  must  show  himself  friendly;  and  there 
is  a  friend  that  sticketh  closer  than  a  brother.     (Proverbs  xviii.  24.) 

2.  He  that  loveth  pureness  of  heart,  for  the  grace  of  his  lips,  the 
king  shall  be  his  friend.     (Proverbs  xxii.  11.) 

3.  I  have  not  sat  with  vain  persons,  neither  will  I  go  in  with  dis- 
semblers. I  have  hated  the  congregation  of  evildoers,  and  will  not 
sit  with  the  wicked.     (Psalms  xxvi.  4-5.) 

4.  It  is  better  to  hear  the  rebuke  of  the  wise  than  for  a  man  to 
hear  the  song  of  fools.     (Ecclesiastes  vii.  5.) 


DUTIES    TO    OURSELVES.  2 J 

5.  A  violent  man  enticeth  his  neighbor  and  leadeth  him  into  the 
way  that  is  not  good.      (Proverbs  xvi.  29.) 

6.  Enter  not  into  the  path  of  the  wicked,  and  go  not  in  the  way 
of  evil  men.  Avoid  it,  pass  not  by  it,  turn  from  it,  and  pass  away. 
For  they  sleep  not,  except  they  have  done  mischief;  and  their  sleep 
is  taken  away,  unless  they  cause  some  to  fall.  For  they  eat  the  bread 
of  wickedness,  and  drink  the  wine  of  violence.     ( Proverbs  iv.  14-17.) 

7.  Discretion  shall  preserve  thee,  understanding  shall  keep  thee  ; 
to  deliver  thee  from  the  way  of  the  evil  man,  from  the  man  that 
speaketh  froward  things  ;  from  those  who  leave  the  paths  of  uprightness 
to  walk  in  the  ways  of  darkness;  who  rejoice  to  do  evil,  and  delight 
in  the  frowardness  of  the  wicked ;  whose  ways  are  crooked,  and 
they  froward  in  their  paths.     (Proverbs  ii.  11-15.) 

8.  My  son,  if  sinners  entice  thee,  consent  thou  not.  If  they  say, 
V  Come  with  us,  let  us  lay  wait  for  blood,  let  us  lurk  privily  for  the 
innocent  without  cause,  let  us  swallow  them  up  alive  as  the  grave, 
and  whole  as  those  that  go  down  into  the  pit ;  we  shall  find  all  pre- 
cious substance,  we  shall  fill  our  houses  with  spoil;  cast  in  thy  lot 
among  us;  let  us  all  have  one  purse";  my  son,  walk  not  thou  in  the 
way  with  them  ;  refrain  thy  foot  from  their  path.     (Proverbs  i.  10-15.) 

9.  Be  not  thou  envious  against  evil  men,  neither  desire  to  be  with 
them,  for  their  heart  studieth  destruction,  and  their  lips  talk  of  mis- 
chief.    (Proverbs  xxiv.  1-2.) 

10.  Blessed  is  the  man  that  walketh  not  in  the  counsel  of  the  un- 
godly, nor  standeth  in  the  way  of  sinners,  nor  sitteth  in  the  seat  of  the 
scornful.     (Psalms  i.  1.) 

VIII.— STRIVE  TO  BE  HOLY  AND  PERFECT. 

To  be  free  from  sin  and  to  do  what  is  right  and  good,  is  to  be  holy. 
It  is  our  selfishness  that  makes  us  want  to  do  wrong.  We  must  seek 
to  overcome  it,  and  thus  by  keeping  from  sin,  by  doing  good  to  every 
one,  whatever  be  his  religion,  his  opinions  or  his  race,  and  becoming 
wiser  each  day,  we  may  grow  more  and  more  perfect  or  godlike. 


28  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

"  He  that  has  light  within  his  own  clear  breast 
May  sit  in  the  center  and  enjoy  bright  day ; 
But  he  that  hides  a  dark  soul  and  foul  thoughts, 
Benighted  walks  under  the  midday  sun." 


i.  Sanctify  yourself  and  be  ye  holy,  for  I  am  the  Lord  your  God, 
and  ye  shall  keep  my  statutes  and  do  them.  I  am  the  Lord  who  sanc- 
tifies you.     (Leviticus  xx.  7-8.) 

2.  He  that  folio weth  after  righteousness  and  mercy,  findeth  life, 
righteousness  and  honor.      (Proverbs  xxi.  21.) 

3.  Moreover,  thou  shalt  provide  out  of  all  the  people  able  men, 
such  as  fear  God,  men  of  truth,  hating  covetousness,  and  place  such 
over  them.      (Exodus  xviii.  21.) 

4.  Incline  my  heart  unto  thy  testimonies,  and  not  to  covetousness. 
(Psalms  cxix   36. ) 

5.  For  what  is  the  hope  of  the  hypocrite,  though  he  hath  gained, 
when  God  taketh  away  his  soul  ?  Will  God  hear  his  cry  when  trouble 
cometh  upon  him  ?  Will  he  delight  himself  in  the  Almighty  ?  Will 
he  always  call  upon  God?     (Job  xxvii.  8-10.) 

IX.— BE  CONTENT  AND  ENVY  NO  ONE. 

Most  people  are  always  busy  trying  to  earn  money,  and  yet  are 
never  satisfied  when  they  have  it.  It  is  right  to  earn  money  honestly, 
for  with  it  we  can  do  good  to  ourselves  and  to  others  ;  but  "  only  he 
is  rich,"  said  our  Rabbis,  "  who  makes  good  use  of  his  riches." 

The  most  miserable  person  is  he  who  is  envious  of  another's  wealth, 
success  or  pleasures.  He  can  not  enjoy  what  he  has,  because  of  his 
fretting  for  what  he  has  not.  Let  us  never  be  envious,  but  remember 
that  contentment  is  the  only  true  wealth. 


'  My  crown  is  in  my  heart,  not  on  my  head, 
Not  decked  with  diamonds  and  Indian  stones, 
Not  to  be  seen  ;  my  crown  is  called  Content, 
A  crown  it  is  that  seldom  kings  enjoy." — Shakespeare. 


DUTIES    TO    OURSELVES. 

"  Happy  the  man,  of  mortals  happiest  he  • 

Whose  quiet  mind  from  vain  desires  is  free ; 
Whom  neither  hopes  deceive  nor  fears  torment, 
But  lives  at  peace,  within  himself  content ; 
In  thought  or  act  accountable  to  none 
But  to  himself  and  to  his  God  alone." — George  Granville. 


29 


Show  that  this  is  true  from  the  following  or  other  stories  of  the  Bible  : 
I.  Samuel  xviii. 


1.  Better  is  little  with  the  fear  of  the  Lord  than  great  treasure  and 
trouble  therewith.     (Proverbs  xv.  16.) 

2.  Better  is  a  little  with  righteousness  than  great  revenues  without 
right.     (Proverbs  xvi.  8.) 

3.  Better  is  the  poor  that  walketh  in  his  uprightness  than  he  that 
is  perverse  in  his  ways,  though  he  be  rich.     (Proverbs  xxviii.  6.) 

4.  The  rich  and  the  poor  meet  together,  the  Lord  is  the  maker  of 
them  all.      (Proverbs  xxii.  2.) 

5.  Be  thou  not  afraid  when  one  is  made  rich,  when  the  glory  of 
his  house  is  increased;  for  when  he  dieth  he  shall  carry  nothing  away, 
his  glory  shall  not  descend  after  him.     (Psalms  xlix.  17-18.) 

6.  He  that  trusteth  in  his  riches  shall  fall,  but  the  righteous  shall 
flourish  as  a  branch.     (Proverbs  xi.  28.  ) 

7.  A  little  that  the  righteous  man  has  is  better  than  the  riches  of 
many  wicked.  For  the  arms  of  the  wicked  shall  be  broken,  but 
the  Lord  upholdeth  the  righteous.  The  Lord  knoweth  tire  days  of 
the  upright,  and  their  inheritance  shall  be  forever.  They  shall  not  be 
ashamed  in  the  evil  time,  and  in  the  days  of  famine  they  shall  be  sat- 
isfied.    (Psalms  xxxvii.  16-19.) 

8.  I  have  been  young,  and  now  I  am  old;  yet  have  I  not  seen  the 
righteous  forsaken,  nor  his  seed  begging  bread.     (Psalms  xxxvii.  25  ) 

9.  He  that  hasteth  to  be  rich,  hath  an  evil  eye,  and  considereth 
not  that  poverty  shall  come  upon  him.     (Proverbs  xxviii.  22.) 

10.  A  faithful  man  shall  abound  with  blessings,  but  he  that  maketh 
haste  to  be  rich  shall  not  be  innocent.     (Proverbs  xxviii.  20. 


30 


BIBLE    ETHICS. 


1 1.  Two  things  have  I  required  of  thee,  deny  me  them  not  before  I 
die.  Remove  far  from  me  vanity  and  lies,  give  me  neither  poverty  nor 
riches,  feed  me  with  food,  convenient  for  me,  lest  I  be  full  and  deny 
thee,  and  say,  "Who  is  the  Lord  ?  "  or  lest  I  be  poor  and  steal,  and 
take  the  name  of  my  God  in  vain.     (Proverbs  xxx.  7-9.) 

12.  Better  is  a  dinner  of  herbs,  where  love  is,  than  a  stalled  ox  and 
hatred  therewith.      (Proverbs  x v.  17.) 

13.  Let  not  thine  heart  envy  sinners ;  but  be  thou  in  the  fear  of  the 
Lord  all  day  long.     (Proverbs  xxiii.  17. ) 

X.— DO  CHARITY  AND  YOU  WILL  GROW  BETTER 
THEREBY. 

There  is  a  blessing  in  doing  got>d  to  others  which  makes  us  feel 
richer  than  any  amount  of  wealth  can  When  we  treat  our  visitors 
and  friends  hospitably  it  ennobles  us,  as  does  also  giving  to  the  poor. 

To  do  charity  is  our  duty  indeed,  but  even  a  gift  can  be  made  ir- 
religious by  its  being  done  in  an  unwilling  spirit,  in  an  unfriendly  or 
in  a  showy  manner.  To  make  a  show  of  one's  charity,  our  sages 
taught,  is  sinful,  for  it  not  only  debases  us,  but  it  shames  the  helpless 
ones.  "  Charity  is  a  virtue  of  the  heart  and  not  of  the  hands."  Such 
charity  we  can  all  show  by  constant  kindness  in  words  and  acts. 

"  In  '  faith  '  and  '  hope  '  the  world  will  disagree, 
But  all  mankind's  concern  is  Charity. 
All  must  be  false  that  thwart  this  one  great  end, 
And  all  of  God,  that  bless  mankind  or  mend." 

1.  He  that  hath  pity  upon  the  poor  lendeth  to  the  Lord,  and  that 
which  he  hath  given  will  he  pay  him  again.     (Proverbs  xix.  17.) 

2.  He  that  hath  a  bountiful  eye  shall  be  blessed ;  for  he  giveth  of 
his  bread  to  the  poor.     (Proverbs  xxii  9.) 

3.  He  that  giveth  unto  the  poor  shall  not  lack,  but  he  that  hideth 
his  eyes  shall  have  many  a  curse.      (Proverbs  xxviii.  27. ) 

4.  Treasures  of  wickedness  profit  nothing,  but  righteousness 
(charity)  delivereth  from  death.     (Proverbs  x.  2.) 


DUTIES    TO    OURSELVES. 


31 


5.  He  that  is  greedy  troubleth  his  own  house,  but  he  that  hateth 
gifts  shall  live.      (Proverbs  xv.  27.) 

6.  The  vile  person  shall  be  no  more  called  liberal,  nor  the  churl 
said  to  be  bountiful.  For  the  vile  person  will  speak  villainy,  and  his 
heart  will  work  iniquity,  to  practice  hypocrisy,  and  to  utter  error  against 
the  Lord,  to  make  empty  the  soul  of  the  hungry,  and  he  will  cause  the 
drink  of  the  thirsty  to  fail.  The  instruments  also  of  the  churl  are 
evil,  he  deviseth  wicked  devices  to  destroy  the  poor  with  lying  words, 
even  when  the  needy  speaketh  right.  But  the  liberal  deviseth  liberal 
things,  and  by  liberal  things  shall  he  stand.      (I.-aiah  xxxii.  5-8.) 

XL— STUDY  YOURSELF  THAT  YOU  MAY  BETTER  YOUR- 
SELF. 

We  usually  talk  about  the  faults  of  others  but  fail  to  think  of  our 
own.  This  is  unwise  and  leads  to  trouble.  We  should  study  our- 
selves and  try  to  remove  the  faults  we  have. 


"  Know  thyself  and  be  wise  are  the  same  thing." 

1 '  Go  to  your  heart, 
Knock  there ;  and  ask  your  heart  what  it 
Doth  know." — Shakespeare. 

"  Ere.  you  remark  another's  sin 
Bid  thine  own  conscience  look  within." — Gay. 

"It  is  jn  general  more  profitable  to  reckon  up  our  defects  than  to  boast  of 
our  attainments." — Carlyle. 


i.     Create  in  me  a  clean  heart,  O  God;  and  renew  a  right  spirit 
within  me.     (Psalms  li.  10. ) 

2.  Let  us  search  and  try  our  ways,  and  turn  again  to  the  Lord. 
Let  us  lift  up  our  heart  with  our  hands  unto  God  in  the  heavens. 
(Lamentations  iii.  40-41.) 

3.  Keep  thy  heart  with  all  diligence  ;  for  out  of  it  are  the  issues  o£ 
life.     (Proverbs  iv.  23.) 


32  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

XII.— ELEVATE  YOUR  MORAL  NATURE. 

In  the  worry  and  toil  of  our  every-day  lives  we  must  not  let  our 
spirits  sink.  The  selfishness  and  ill  will  of  others  may  give  us  trouble, 
we  may  find  ourselves  slipping  back  into  bad  habits  and  ways,  but 
we  must  never  lose  courage.  Let  us  be  strong  in  our  will  to  do  good 
and  continue  in  trying  to  lift  ourselves  above  all  error  and  sin. 


1 '  What  the  superior  man  seeks  is  in  himself ; 
What  the  small  man  seeks  is  in  others." — Confucius. 

"  Character  is  higher  than  intellect." — Emerson. 

"  Stand  fast  and  all  temptation  to  transgress  repel." — Milton. 

"  The  true  grandeur  of  humanity  is  in  moral  elevation,  sustained,  enlight- 
ened and  decorated  by  the  intellect  of  man." — Charles  Sumner. 


i.  Examine  me,  O  Lord,  and  prove  me  ;  try  my  thoughts  and  my 
heart,  for  thy  loving  kindness  is  before  mine  eyes ;  and  I  have  walked 
in  thy  truth.     (Psalms  xxvi.  2-3.) 

2.  A  merry  heart  maketh  a  cheerful  countenance ;  but  by  sorrow 
of  the  heart  the  spirit  is  broken.     (Proverbs  xv.  13.  ) 

3.  A  merry  heart  doeth  good  like  a  medicine  ;  but  a  broken  spirit 
drieth  the  bones.     (Proverbs  xvii.  22.) 

XIII.— SEEK  TO  BECOME  WISER. 

"Having  wisdom  what  do  I  lack?  Lacking  wisdom  what  have 
I  ?  "  asked  the  Rabbis.  To  become  wise  should  be  our  constant  aim, 
but  the  first  thing  is  to  keep  in  mind  how  very  ignorant  even  the  wisest 
among  us  is.  It  is  not  so  much  the  knowing  many  things  that  makes 
us  wise,  for  even  from  the  humblest  person  we  may  learn  something 
new ;  no,  it  is  rather  being  firm  in  our  minds  and  strong  in  ruling  our- 
selves.    Wisdom  shows  itself  in  our  deeds  as  much  as  in  our  speaking. 


DUTIES    TO    OURSELVES.  33 

u  Wisdom  adorns  riches  and  overshadows  poverty." — Socrates. 

"  By  wisdom  wealth  is  won; 
But  riches  purchased  wisdom  yet  for  none."— Bayard  Taylor. 

"  To  know 
That  which  before  us  lies  in  daily  life, 
Is  the  prime  wisdom."—  Milton. 


Show  that  this  is  true  from  the  following  or  other  stories  of  the 
Bible:    Examples:  I.  Kings  iii.  5-16;  II.  Chronicles  i.  ;  Job  xxxiii. 


1 .  Cause  me  to  know  the  way  wherein  I  should  walk ;  for  I  lift  up 
my  soul  unto  thee.  Teach  me  to  do  thy  will ;  for  thou  art  my  God ; 
thy  spirit  is  good;  lead  me  into  the  land  of  uprightness.  (Psalms 
cxliii.  8-10.) 

2.  Teach  me  thy  way,  O  Lord;  I  will  walk  in  thy  truth;  unite  my 
heart  to  fear  thy  name.     (Psalms  lxxxvi.  n.) 

3.  He  that  trusteth  in  his  own  heart  is  a  fool;  but  whoso  walketh 
wisely,  he  shall  be  delivered.     (Proverbs  xxviii.  26. ) 

4.  Woe  unto  them  that  are  wise  in  their  own  eyes,  and  prudent  in 
their  own  sight.     (Isaiah  v.  21.) 

5.  If  thou  be  wise,  thou  shalt  be  wise  for  thyself;  but  if  thou 
scornest,  thou  alone  shalt  bear  it.     (Proverbs  ix.  12.) 

6.  Through  wisdom  is  a  house  built ;  and  by  understanding  it  is 
established ;  and  by  knowledge  shall  the  chambers  be  filled  with  all 
precious  and  pleasant  riches.     (Proverbs  xxiv.  3-4.  ) 

7.  Hear  counsel,  and  receive  instructions,  that  thou  mayest  be 
wise  in  thy  latter  end.     (Proverbs  xix.  20.) 

8.  My  son,  forget  not  my  law ;  but  let  thy  heart  keep  my  com- 
mandments. For  length  of  days,  and  long  life,  and  peace,  shall  they 
add  to  thee.  Let  not  mercy  and  truth  forsake  thee ;  bind  them  about 
thy  neck  ;  write  them  upon  the  table  of  thy  heart.  So  shalt  thou  find 
favor  and  good  understanding  in  the  sight  of  God  and  man.  ( Proverbs 
iii.  1-4.) 

9.  A  scorner  loveth  not  one  that  reproveth  him  ;  neither  will  he  go 
unto  the  wise      (Proverbs  xv.  12.) 


C— DUTIES  IN  GENERAL. 

L— DUTIES  OF  PARENTS  TO  CHILDREN. 

It  is  the  duty  of  parents  to  afford  to  their  children  a  good  example 
in  all  things  by  their  own  conduct  in  life.  Parents  must  do  all  they 
can  to  provide  for  their  children  and  make  their  homes  the  dearest 
spot  on  earth.  The  Rabbis  laid  down  the  rule  that  every  parent  must 
train  the  body,  mind  and  soul  of  his  child,  must  teach  him  to  exercise 
his  body  and  learn  a  trade,  but,  "  the  study  of  the  law,"  which  means 
the  training  of  the  mind  and  spirit,  this  "  exceeds  all  things." 


"  The  effect  of  precept  is  slow  and  tedious,  that  of  example  is  quick  and 
effectual. ' ' — Seneca. 

* !  Do  not  train  children  to  learning  by  force  and  harshness ;  but  direct 
them  to  it  by  what  amuses  their  minds,  so  that  you  may  be  the  better  able 
to  discover  with  accuracy  the  peculiar  bent  of  the  genius  of  each." — Plato, 

"  Delightful  task !  to  rear  the  tender  thought, 
To  teach  the  young  idea  how  to  shoot, 
To  pour  the  fresh  instruction  o'er  the  mind, 
To  breathe  the  enlivening  spirit,  and  to  fix 
The  generous  purpose  in  the  glowing  breast." — Thomson. 


i.  And  these  words,  which  I  command  thee  this  day,  shall  be  in 
thy  heart;  and  thou  shalt  teach  them  diligently  unto  thy  children,  and 
thou  shalt  talk  of  them  when  thou  sittest  in  thy  house,  and  when  thou 
walkest  by  the  way,  and  when  thou  liest  down,  and  when  thou  risest 
up.     (Deuteronomy  vi.  6-7.) 

2.  Gather  me  the  people  together,  and  I  will  make  them  hear  my 
words,  that  they  may  learn  to  fear  me  all  the  days  that  they  shall  live 
upon  the  earth,  and  that  they  may  teach  their  children.  (Deuter- 
onomy iv.  10. ) 


DUTIES    IN    GENERAL.  35 

3.  Train  up  a  child  in  the  way  he  should  go,  and  when  he  is  old 
he  will  not  depart  from  it.      (Proverbs  xxii.  6. ) 

4.  Correct  thy  son,  and  he  shall  give  thee  rest ;  yea,  he  shall  give 
delight  unto  thy  soul.     (Proverbs  xxix.  17.) 

5.  Seeing  that  Abraham  shall  become  a  great  and  mighty  nation, 
and  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  shall  be  blessed  in  him,  for  I  know 
him,  that  he  will  command  his  children  and  his  household  after  him, 
and  they  shall  keep  the  way  of  the  Lord,  to  do  justice  and  judgment; 
that  the  Lord  may  bring  upon  Abraham  that  which  he  hath  spoken  of 
him.      (Genesis  xviii.  18-19.) 

6.  Withhold  not  correction  from  the  child,  for  if  thou  beatest  him 
with  the  rod,  he  shall  not  die.  Thou  shalt  beat  him  with  a  rod  and 
shall  deliver  his  soul  from  destruction.     (Proverbs  xxiii.  13-14.) 

7.  Foolishness  is  bound  in  the  heart  of  a  child ;  but  the  rod  of  cor 
rection  shall  drive  it  far  from  him.     (Proverbs  xxii.  15.) 

8.  He  that  spareth  his  rod  hateth  his  son,  but  he  that  loveth  him, 
chastiseth  him  betimes.     (Proverbs  xiii.  24.) 

II.— DUTIES  OF  CHILDREN  TO  THEIR  PARENTS. 

"  Honor  thy  father  and  thy  mother,"  is  the  command  that  contains 
all  our  duties  to  our  parents.  There  are  many  ways  in  which  we  may 
honor  our  parents;  but  the  first  is  by  obeying  them  in  everything,. no 
matter  how  small  or  great,  unless  it  is  something  wrong.  There  are 
many  little  things  in  which  we  can  show  honor,  respect  and  love  to 
our  parents  every  day.  Our  Rabbis  give  some  of  these,  as  :  "Do  not 
vex  them,  nor  disturb  their  sleep.  Do  not  sit  down  in  their  place. 
Do  not  deny  what  they  say,  nor  agree  with  their  words  in  such  a  way 
as  to  seem  to  decide  whether  they  are  right  or  wrong.  Speak  to  them 
and  of  them  only  in  the  most  respectful  terms." 


The  dutifulness  of  children  is  the  foundation  of  all  virtues."— Cicero. 


36  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

Examples:  Genesis  xxxvii.  29-36;  II.  Samuel  xv.  1-15;  II. 
Samuel  xviii.  1-16;  II.  Samuel  xviii.  28-32;  Genesis  xxii.  1-14; 
Genesis  xliv.  18-34;  Genesis  xlv.  1-14;  I.  Kings  xix.  19-20. 


1.  Children's  children  are  the  crown  of  old  men;  and  the  glory 
of  children  are  their  fathers.     (Proverbs  xvii.  6. ) 

2.  Behold,  how  good  and  how  pleasant  it  is  for  brethren  to  dwell 
together  in  unity.     (Psalms  cxxxiii.  1.) 

3.  My  son,  hear  the  instructions  of  thy  father,  and  forsake  not  the 
law  of  thy  mother.     (Proverbs  i.  8.) 

4.  Ye  shall  fear  every  man  his  mother  and  his  father,  and  keep  my 
Sabbaths;  I  am  the  Lord  your  God.     (Leviticus  xix.  3.) 

5.  Hearken  unto  thy  father  that  begat  thee,  and  despise  not  thy 
mother  when  she  is  old.  Buy  the  truth  and  sell  it  not;  also  wisdom 
and  instruction  and  understanding.  The  father  of  the  righteous  shall 
greatly  rejoice  ;  and  he  that  begetteth  a  wise  child  shall  have  joy  of 
him.     (Proverbs  xxxiii.  22-24. ) 

6.  A  wise  son  maketh  a  glad  father ;  but  a  foolish  son  is  the  heavi- 
ness of  his  mother.     (Proverbs  x.  1.) 

7.  A  foolish  son  is  a  grief  to  his  father  and  bitterness  to  her  that 
bore  him.     (Proverbs  xvii.  25.) 

8.  The  rod  and  reproof  give  wisdom  ;  but  a  child  left  to  himself 
bringeth  his  mother  to  shame.     (Proverbs  xxix.  15.) 

9.  Whoso  keepeth  the  law  is  a  wise  son ;  but  he  that  is  a  compan- 
ion of  riotous  men  shameth  his  father.      (Proverbs  xxviii.  7. ) 

10.  Whoso  robbeth  his  father  or  his  mother,  and  saith,  "It  is  no 
transgression  "  ;  the  same  is  the  companion  of  a  destroyer.  (Proverbs 
xxviii.  24. ) 

11.  He  that  plundereth  his  father  and  chaseth  away  his  mother,  is  a 
son  that  causeth  shame  and  bringeth  reproach.     (Proverbs  xix.  26.) 

12.  The  eye  that  mocketh  at  his  father  and  despiseth  to  obey  his 
mother,  the  ravens  of  the  valley  shall  pick  it  out,  and  the  young  eagles 
shall  eat  it.      (Proverbs  xxx.  17.) 


DUTIES    IN    GENERAL.  37 

13.  Whoso  curseth  his  father  or  his  mother  his  lamp  shall  be  put 
out  in  obscure  darkness.      (Proverbs  xx.  20.) 

14.  Cursed  be  he  that  speaketh  lightly  of  his  father  or  mother,  and 
all  the  people  shall  say,  Amen.     (Deuteronomy  xxvii.  16.) 

III.— DUTIES    OF  MASTER  AND  SERVANT. 

In  telling  what  the  duties  of  a  master  are,  Rabbi  Moses  ben  Mai- 
mon  said  :  "  The  master  shall  not  distress  his  servant  nor  harm  him; 
shall  put  no  heavy  burden  upon  him;  but,  on  the  contrary,  shall  care 
for  him  properly,  and  feed  and  clothe  him  well.  He  must  not  give 
his  orders  in  a  loud  and  scolding  tone,  but  be  calm  and  patient,  and 
listen  to  what  the  servant  has  to  say."  Prompt  obedience,  strict  hon- 
esty, and  a  careful  doing  of  all  his  duties  are  required  of  the  servant. 


Show  the  truth  of  the  foregoing  by  the  following  or  other  stories  of 
the  Bible:     Examples:     Genesis  xxiv.;  II.  Samuel  xv.  18-23. 


1.  Thou  shalt  not  oppress  a  hired  servant  that  is  poor  and  needy, 
whether  he  be  of  thy  brethren,  or  of  thy  strangers  that  are  in  thy  land 
within  thy  gates :  at  his  day  thou  shalt  give  him  his  hire,  neither  shall 
the  sun  go  down  upon  it;  for  he  is  poor  and  setteth  his  heart  upon  it; 
lest  he  cry  against  thee  unto  the  Lord,  and  it  be  sin  unto  thee.  (Deu- 
teronomy xxiv.  14-15.) 

2.  The  wages  of  him  that  is  hired  shall  not  abide  with  thee  all 
night  until  the  morning.     (Leviticus  xix.  13.) 

3.  Woe  unto  him  that  buildeth  his  house  by  unrighteousness,  and 
his  chambers  by  wrong ;  that  useth  his  neighbor's  service  without 
wages,  and  giveth  him  nought  for  his  "work.     (Jeremiah  xxii.  13.) 

4.  And  if  thy  brother  that  dwelleth  by  thee  be  waxen  poor,  and 
be  sold  unto  thee,  thou  shalt  not  compel  him  to  serve  as  a  bond-ser- 
vant; but  as  a  hired  servant,  and  as  a  sojourner  he  shall  be  with  thee, 
and  shall  i-erve  thee  unto  the  year  of  jubilee.     Thou  shalt  not  rule 


38  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

over  him  with  rigor  ;  but  shalt  fear  thy  God.      (Leviticus  xxv.  39-40 

43) 

5.  And  when  thou  sendest  him  out  free  from  thee,  thou  shalt  not 
let  him  go  away  empty ;  thou  shalt  furnish  him  liberally  out  of  thy 
flock,  and  out  of  thy  floor,  and  out  of  thy  wine-press,  of  that  where- 
with the  Lord  thy  God  hath  blessed  thee  thou  shalt  give  unto  him, 
and  thou  shalt  remember  that  thou  wast  a  bondsman  in  the  land  of 
Egypt  and  the  Lord  thy  God  redeemed  thee ;  therefore,  I  command 
thee  this  thing  to-day.     (Deuteronomy  xv.  13-15.) 

6.  Whoso  keepeth  the  fig  tree  shall  eat  the  fruit  thereof;  so  he 
that  waiteth  on  his  master  shall  be  honored.     (Proverbs  xxvii.  18.) 

IV.— DUTIES  TO  OUR  BENEFACTORS. 

It  is  our  duty  to  be  thankful  for  every  kindness,  great  or  small,  that 
is  shown  to  us.  We  must  never  forget  the  same,  but  must  know  how 
to  appreciate  it  and  must  eagerly  strive  to  repay  it  at  least  with  equal 
kindness. 

Our  greatest  benefactors  are  our  parents  and  teachers,  and  all  those 
who  labor  to  bring  us  up  and  educate  us  and  help  us  along.  We 
never  can  do  enough  to  thank  them  for  their  care  and  patience  and 
kindness,  but  by  our  noble  conduct  we  may  best  prove  to  them  that 
we  really  value  their  good  acts. 


11  That  man  is  worthless  who  knows  how  to  receive  a  favor,  but  not  how 
to  return  one." — Plautus. 

"  There  is  no  benefit  so  small  that  a  good  man  will  not  magnify  it." 

— Seneca. 

"  A  thankful  heart  is  not  only  the  greatest  virtue,  but  the  parent  of  all 
other  virtues." — Cicero. 

"  Let  the  man  who  would  be  grateful  think  of  repaying  a  kindness,  even 
while  receiving  it. '  'Seneca. 


DUTIES    IN    GENERAL.  39 

"  Earth  produces  nothing  worse  than  an  ungrateful  man."— Ansonius. 


i.  Whoso  bestoweth  evil  in  return  for  good,  evil  shall  not  depart 
from  his  house.     (Proverbs  xvii.  13.) 

2.  They  also  that  repay  me  evil  in  lieu  of  good ;  they  hate  me 
bitterly  because  I  pursue  what  is  good.     (Psalms  xxxviii.  21.) 

3.  Shall  evil  be  recompensed  instead  of  good,  that  they  have  dug 
a  pit  against  my  life?     (Jeremiah  xviii.  20.) 

V. -DUTIES  TOWARD  ORPHANS,  WIDOWS,  STRANGERS, 
OR  THOSE  OF  OTHER  BELIEFS. 

Sad  is  the  lot  of  the  homeless,  the  widow  and  the  orphan,  who  are 
forced  to  depend  on  the  kindness  of  strangers.  It  is  our  duty  to  open 
our  hearts  to  all  such,  it  makes  no  difference  who  they  are,  or  of  what 
religion  they  may  be,  for  we  are  all  the  children  of  one  Heavenly 
Father. 

We  must  not  treat  them  with  unjust  suspicion  or  take  any  advan- 
tage of  them,  bat  rather  look  upon  them  as  belonging  to  us,  as  equals, 
and  treat  them  so,  doing  nothing  to  them  that  we  should  hate  to  have 
done  to  us. 


Examples:     Genesis  xviii.    1-9;   Ruth  ii.   2-19;    I.   Samuel  xx.; 
Genesis  xxiii.;  Genesis  xl. 


1.  The  Lord  guardeth  the  strangers;  the  fatherless  and  widow  he 
helpeth  up      (Psalms  cxlvi.  9.) 

2.  For  the  Lord  your  God  is  the  God  of  gods,  and  the  Lord  of 
lords,  the  great,  the  mighty  and  the  terrible  God,  who  hath  no  re- 
gard for  persons  and  taketh  no  bribe.  Who  executeth  justice  for  the 
fatherless  and  the  widow,  and  loveth  the  stranger  to  give  him  food  and 
raiment.  Love  ye  then  the  stranger;  for  you  have  been  stranger*,  in 
the  land  of  Egypt.     (Deuteronomy  x:  17-19.) 


40  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

3.  When  thou  hast  made  an  end  of  giving  away  all  the  tithe  in  the 
third  year,  the  year  of  the  tithing,  and  hast  given  it  unto  the  Levite, 
to  the  stranger,  to  the  fatherless,  and  to  the  widow,  and  they  have 
eaten  within  thy  gates,  and  are  satisfied.      (Deuteronomy  xxvi.   12.) 

4.  As  a  bird  that  wandereth  away  from  its  nest,  so  is  a  man  that 
wandereth  away  from  his  place.      (Proverbs  xxvii.  8.) 

5.  Weep  not  for  the  dead,  and  do  not  bemoan  him;  weep  sorely 
for  him  that  goeth  away ;  for  he  shall  never  return  any  more  and  see 
the  land  of  his  birth.      (Jeremiah  xxii.  10.) 

6.  And  if  a  stranger  sojourn  with  thee  in  your  land,  ye  shall  uot 
vex  him.  As  one  born  in  the  land  among  you,  shall  be  unto  you  the 
stranger  that  sojourneth  with  you,  and  thou  shalt  love  him  as  thyself; 
for  ye  were  strangers  in  the  land  of  Egypt.  I  am  the  Lord  your  God. 
(Leviticus  xix.  33-34.) 

7.  And  a  stranger  thou  shalt  not  vex,  and  shalt  not  oppress  him ; 
for  strangers  ye  were  in  the  land  of  Egypt.     (Exodus  xxii.  20.) 

8.  And  a  stranger  shalt  thou  not  oppress ;  for  ye  know  well  the 
spirit  of  the  stranger,  seeing  ye  yourselves  were  strangers  in  the  land 
of  Egypt.      (Exodus  xxiii.  9.  ) 

9.  Cursed  be  he  that  perverteth  the  cause  of  the  stranger,  of  the 
fatherless  and  the  widow ;  and  all  the  people  shall  say,  Amen.  (Deu- 
teronomy xxvii.  T.9. ) 

10.  Congregation  !  one  statute  shall  be  for  you  and  for  the  stranger 
that  sojourneth ;  a  statute  forever  in  your  generations;  as  ye  are,  so 
shall  the  stranger  be  before  the  Lord.  One  law  and  one  code  shall 
be  for  you  and  for  the  stranger  that  sojourneth  with  you.  (Numbers 
xv.  15-16.) 

VI.— OUR  DUTIES  TOWARD  OUR   COUNTRY. 

Those  who  rule  a  country  must  ever  be  faithful  in  doing  their  duty, 
must  serve  for  the  good  of  the  people,  and  not  for  their  own  profit ; 
must  be  honest,  just  and  merciful.     Therefore,  we  should  be  very 


DUTIES    IN    GENERAL.  4r 

careful  in  selecting  officers,  not  to  let  anything  influence  us  to  choose 
any  but  those  who  are  upright  and  able. 

The  people  must  obey  the  law,  and  peaceably  submit  to  the  rulers. 
If  these  be  cruel  and  unjust,  they  must  be  patient,  for  justice  is  from 
God  and  will  surely  come. 

"  Let  the  interest  of  the  place  in  which  you  dwell  be  your  own," 
said  one  of  our  great  Rabbis,  and  so,  indeed,  we  should  serve  our 
country  with  all  our  power  and  wealth,  and  not  hesitate  to  fight  for  it 
and  lay  down  our  lives  in  its  behalf. 


'*  Let  all  the  ends  thou  aim'st  at  be  thy  country's,  thy  God's  and  truth's." 
— Shakespeare. 

"Ido  love  my  country's  good  with  a  respect  more  tender,  more  holy  and 
profound  than  mine  own  life."— Shakespeare. 

"This  nation,  under  God,  shall  have  a  new  birth  of  freedom,  and  that 
government  of  the  people,  by  the  people,  for  the  people,  shall  not  perish 
from  the  earth. "—Lincoln. 

1 '  Of  all  human  things  nothing  is  more  honorable,  or  more  excellent,  than 
to  deserve  well  of  one's  country." — Cicero. 

"■  How  sleep  the  brave,  who  sink  to  rest, 
By  all  their  country's  wishes  blest." — Collins. 


Prove  that  the  above  is  true  by  the  following  or  other  stories  in  the 
Bible:  Examples:  I.  Samuel  viii.;  Judges  iv.,  vi.,  xi.;  I.  Samuel 
xvii.  20-58;  I.  Samuel  xii.;  Joshua  vi.,  vii.;  Numbers  xiii.,  xiv. 


1.  Even  in  thy  thought  thou  must  not  curse  a  king;  and  in  thy 
bedchambers  do  not  curse  the  rich ;  for  a  bird  of  the  air  can  carry  the 
sound,  and  that  which  hath  wings  can  tell  the  word.  ( Ecclesiastes. 
x.  20.) 

2.  My  son,  fear  the  Lord  and  the  king ;  with  those  that  are  desir- 
ous to  change,  do  not  mingle  thyself.     (Proverbs  xxiv.  21.) 


42 


BIBLE    ETHICS. 


3.  The  judges  thou  shalt  not  revile;  and  a  ruler  among  thy  peo- 
ple thou  shalt  not  curse.      (Exodus  xxii.  27.) 

4.  And  seek  the  welfare  of  the  city,  whither  I  have  banished  you, 
and  pray  in  its  behalf  unto  the  Lord,  for  in  its  welfare  shall  ye  fare 
well.      (Jeremiah  xxix.  7.) 

5.  Kindness  and  truth  will  watch  over  a  king,  and  he  will  prop  up 
through  kindness  his  throne.     (Proverbs  xx.  28.) 

6.  When  a  king  judgeth  in  truth  the  indigent,  his  throne  shall  stand 
firmly  forever.      (Proverbs  xxix.  14.) 

7.  There  should  be  a  wise  sentence  on  the  lips  of  the  king,  his 
mouth  should  never  commit  a  trespass  in  judging.  It  should  be  an 
abomination  to  kings  to  commit  wickedness,  for  through  righteous- 
ness (alone)  can  a  throne  be  established.  Righteous  lips  (should  ob- 
tain) the  favor  of  kings,  and  him  that  speaketh  uprightly  should  they 
love.  The  fury  of  a  king  is  like  the  messenger  of  death ;  but  a  wise 
man  will  appease  it.      (Proverbs  xvi.  10,  12-14.) 

8.  If  a  ruler  listen  to  the  word  of  falsehood,  all  his  servants  be 
come  wicked.      (Proverbs  xxix.  12.) 

9.  A  king  will,  through  the  exercise  of  justice,  establish  (the  wel- 
fare of )  a  land;  but  one  that  loveth  gifts  overthroweth  it.  (Proverbs 
xxix.   4.) 

10.  Not  for  kings,  oh,  Lemoel!  (not  for  kings)  is  it  fitting  to  drink 
wine,  nor  for  princes  strong  drink.  Lest  either  might  drink  and  for- 
get what  is  written  in  the  law,  and  pervert  the  cause  of  all  the  af- 
flicted. Give  strong  drink  unto  him  that  is  ready  to  perish,  and  wine 
unto  those  who  have  an  imbittered  soul.  Let  such  a  one  drink  and 
forget  his  poverty  and  remember  his  trouble  no  more.  Open  thy 
mouth  for  the  dumb,  for  the  cause  of  all  fatherless  children.  Open 
thy  mouth,  judge  righteously,  and  decide  the  cause  of  the  poor  and 
needy.      (Proverbs  xxxi.  4-9. ) 

n.  And  he  appointed  judges  in  the  land,  in  all  the  fortified  cities 
of  Judah  ;  in  city  by  city,  and  he  said  to  the  judges,  "  Look  (well) 
at  what  ye  are  doing;  because  not  for  man  are  ye  to  judge,  but  for 
the  Lord,  who  is  with  you  in  pronouncing  judgment.     And  now  let 


DUTIES    IN    GENERAL. 


43 


the  dread  of  the  Lord  be  upon  you;  take  heed  and  act;  for  with  the 
Lord,  our  God,  there  is  no  injustice,  nor  respect  for  persons,  nor  tak- 
ing of  bribes."     (II.  Chronicles  xix.  57.) 

12.  Many  seek  the  favor  of  a  ruler,  but  from  the  Lord  cometh  jus- 
tice for  man.      (Proverbs  xxix.  26.) 

VII.-OUR  DUTIES  TOWARD  THE  AGED  AND  HELP- 
LESS. 

Those  who  are  unhappy  in  not  having  the  use  of  their  bodily  pow- 
ers, such  as  the  aged,  the  blind,  the  deaf,  the  dumb,  and  the  lame, 
these  should  have  our  sympathy  and  aid.  None  should  laugh  at  or 
mock  them,  but  rather  pity  and  try  to  serve  them.  Great  is  the  joy 
we  can  bring  to  the  hearts  of  those  who  are  helpless,  and  it  is  so  easy 
to  do  this,  and  make  our  own  hearts  feel  so  much  lighter  and  nobler, 
that  we  should  never  neglect  to  fulfill  this  simple  duty. 


Show  the  truth  of  the  foregoing  by  the  following  or  other  stories  in 
the  Bible:  Examples:  I.  Kings  xii.;  Job  xxxii.  4-7;  Genesis  xiv. 
8-24;  Exodus  ii.  1-20;  II.  Samuel  ix. 


1.  Happy  is  he  that  careth  for  the  poor;  on  the  day  of  evil  will 
the  Lord  deliver  him.      (Psalms  xli.  2  ) 

2.  Whoso  stoppeth-his  ears  against  the  cry  of  the  poor,  he  also 
will  cry  himself,  but  shall  not  be  answered.      (Proverbs  xxi.  13. ) 

3.  Whoso  mocketh  the  poor,  blasphemeth  his  Maker;  he  that  is' 
glad  at  calamities  will  not  remain  unpunished.      ( Proverbs  xvii.   5. ) 

4.  He  that  oppressed!  the  poor,  blasphemeth  his  Maker,  but  he 
that  is  gracious  to  the  needy  honoreth  him.      (Proverbs  xiv.  31.) 

5.  Rob  not  the  poor,  because  he  is  poor,  neither  crush  the  afflicted* 
in  the  gate.  For  the  Lord  will  plead  their  cause,  and  despoil  the  life 
of  those  that  despoil  them.      (Proverbs  xxii.  22.-23  ) 

6.  Remove  not  the  ancient  land-mark,   and  in  the  fields  of  the 


44  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

fatherless  must  thou  not  enter.     For  their  redeemer  is  strong ;  he  will 
indeed  plead  their  cause  with  thee.     (Proverbs  xxiii.  io-ii.) 

7.  God  standeth  in  the  congregation  of  God;  in  the  midst  of 
judges  does  he  judge.  How  long  will  ye  judge  unjustly,  and  treat 
with  favor  the  face  of  the  wicked?  Judge  uprightly  the  poor  and  the 
fatherless;  do  justice  to  the  afflicted  and  indigent.  Release  the  poor 
and  needy,  deliver  them  out  of  the  power  of  the  wicked.  They  know 
not,  nor  will  they  understand,  in  darkness  do  they  walk  on  ;  all  the 
foundations  of  the  earth  are  moved.  I  have,  indeed,  said,  "Ye  are 
God's;  and  children  of  the  Most  High  are  all  of  you."  But,  verily, 
like  men  shall  ye  die,  and  like  one  of  the  princes  shall  ye  fall.  Arise, 
O  God,  judge  the  earth;  for  thou  wilt  possess  all  the  nations. 
(Psalms  Ixxxii.) 

8.  Thou  shalt  not  curse  the  deaf,  nor  put  a  stumbling-block  before 
the  blind ;  but  thou  shalt  be  afraid  of  thy  God :  I  am  the  Lord.  ( Levit- 
icus xix.  14.) 

9.  Cursed  be  he  that  causeth  the  blind  to  wander  out  of  the  way, 
and  all  the  people  shall  say,  Amen.     (Deuteronomy  xxvii.  18.) 

10.  Before  the  hoary  head  shalt  thou  rise  up,  and  honor  the  face  of 
the  old  man ;  and  thou  shalt  be  afraid  of  thy  God  :    I  am  the  Lord. 
(Leviticus  xix.  32.) 

VIIL— OUR    DUTIES   TOWARD    THE    LOWER   ANIMALS. 

No  creature  which  God  has  created  should  be  thoughtlessly  injured 
or  abused.  The  feelings  of  animals  should  be  cared  for  not  less  than 
those  of  men,  and  any  cruelty  toward  them  is  a  crime. 

No  beast  of  burden  should  be  overladen  or  overworked,  and  none 
should  be  beaten.  Proper  food  and  rest  are  as  needful  for  animals  as 
fior  man. 


Prove  that  the  above  is  true  by  the  following  or  other  stories  in  the 
Bible:     Example:     Jonah  i v.  11. 


DUTIES    IN    GENERAL.  45 

1.  Thy  righteousness  is  like  the  great  mountains,  thy  judgments 
are  a  great  deep :  O  Lord,  thou  preservest  man  and  beast.  (Psalms 
xxxvi.  7.) 

2.  Six  days  shalt  thou  do  thy  work,  and  on  the  seventh  day  shalt 
thou  rest;  that  thy  ox  and  thy  ass  may  repose,  and  the  son  of  thy 
hand-maid,  and  the  stranger  may  be  refreshed.       (Exodus  xxiii.  12.) 

3.  And  (the  product  of)  the  Sabbath  of  the  land  shall  be  unto  you 
for  food,  for  thee,  and  for  thy  man-servant,  and  for  thy  maid-servant, 
and  for  thy  hired  laborer,  and  for  thy  stranger  that  sojourneth  with 
thee,  and  for  thy  cattle,  and  for  the  beasts  that  are  in  thy  land,  shall 
all  its  products  be  (left)  for  food.     (Leviticus  xxv.  6-7.) 

4.  A  righteous  man  careth  for  the  life  of  his  beast ;  but  the  mer- 
cies of  the  wicked  are  cruelty.     (Proverbs  xii.  10.) 

5.  Thou  shalt  not  see  thy  brother's  ass.  or  his  ox  fallen  down  by 
the  way,  and  withdraw  thyself  from  them ;  thou  shalt  surely  help  him 
to  lift  them  up  again.     (Deuteronomy  xxii.  4.) 

6.  Thou  shalt  not  plow  with  an  ox  and  an  ass  together.  (Deuter- 
onomy xxii.  10.) 

7.  Thou  shalt  not  muzzle  the  ox  when  he  thresheth  out  the  corn. 
(Deuteronomy  xxv.  4.) 

8.  If  a  bird's  nest  chance  to  be  before  thee  in  the  way,  on  any 
tree,  or  on  the  ground  with  young  ones,  or  with  eggs,  and  the  mother 
be  sitting  upon  the  young,  or  upon  the  eggs ;  thou  shalt  not  take  the 
mother  with  the  young.     (Deuteronomy  xxii.  6.) 


D.— OUR  RELIGIOUS  DUTIES. 

I.— BE  EVER  MINDFUL   OF   THE   COMMANDMENTS   OF 
GOD  AND  ACT   UP  TO  THEM. 

Some  form  of  religion  is  found  in  every  part  of  the  world  and  among 
all  peoples,  for  the  feeling  that  gives  us  faith  in  a  God  and  makes  usl 
long  to  become  purer  and  more  perfect  is  in  every  human  heart.  This 
feeling  it  is  our  duty  to  strengthen  and  cultivate ;  in  the  Bible  we  may 
find  the  means  of  doing  this,  that  is,  in  the  commandments  of  God. 
To  know  and  understand  them  is  our  great  duty,  but  we  must  remem- 
ber that  "it  is  the  doing,  not  the  knowing,  which  is  the  principa 
thing,"  as  one  of  our  Rabbis  said. 


"  Without  religion  whither  will  ye  flee  for  safety  in  a  world  full  of  death' 
full  of  warring  passions  ? 

"  Envy  with  its  companions,  slander  and  malice,  assail  you  in  every  direc- 
tion, so  soon  as  ye  begin  to  take  comfort  in  it,  so  soon  as  you  become  in  any 
way  to  distinguish  yourself  in  it.  Wherever  ye  flee  injustice  and  wicked- 
ness are  the  stronger.  Neither  are  you  true  to  yourself;  no  inclination,  no 
purpose,  no  living  and  strengthening  thought  can  ye  hold  fast  at  will.  Per- 
fect blessedness  is  nowhere,  and  nowhere  would  there  be  consolation  even, 
if  religion  were  not.    Religion  alone  can  purify  life." — Jacobi. 


i.  Wherewithal  shall  a  youth  keep  his  way  pure?  By  guiding  it 
according  to  thy  word.     (Psalms  cxix.  9.) 

2.  Depart  from  evil  and  do  good;  seek  peace  and  pursue  it. 
(Psalms  xxxiv.   15.) 

3.  This  day  the  Lord  thy  God  commandeth  thee  to  do  these  stat- 
utes and  ordinances;  and  thou  shalt  keep  and  do  them  with  all  thy 
heart,  and  with  all  thy  soul.     (Deuteronomy  xxvi.  16.) 

4.  The  Lord  will  raise  thee  up  unto  himself  as  a  holy  people,  as 


OUR    RELIGIOUS    DUTIES.  47 

he  hath  sworn  unto  thee  j  if  thou  wilt  keep  the  commandments  of  the 
Lord  thy  God  and  walk  in  his  ways.     (Deuteronomy  xxviii.  9.  ) 

5.  For  this  commandment  which  I  command  thee  this  day,  is  not 
hidden  from  thee,  nor  is  it  far  off.  It  is  not  in  heaven,  that  thou 
shouldst  say,  "  Who  will  go  up  for  us  to  heaven,  and  fetch  it  down 
unto  us,  and  cause  us  to  hear  it,  that  we  may  do  it?"  Neither  is  it 
beyond  the  sea,  that  thou  shouldst  say,  "Who  will  go  over  the  sea 
for  us  and  fetch  it  unto  us,  and  cause  us  to  hear  it,  that  we  may  do 
it?"  But  the  worH  is  very  nigh  unto  thee,  in  thy  mouth  and  in  thy 
heart,  th£t  thou  mayest  doit.      (Deuteronomy  xxx.   n-14.) 

6.  Happy  are  those  that  observe  justice,  that  execute  righteous- 
ness at  all  times.     (Psalms  cvi.  3. ) 

II.— BE  FILLED  WITH  AWE   BEFORE   GOD,  THAT   YOU 
MAY  DO   NO  WRONG. 

Every  one  of  us,  no  doubt,  knows  some  person  whom  we  believe 
to  be  good  and  noble,  and  out  of  regard  for  whom  we  would  not 
allow  ourselves  to  do  or  say  the  least  wrong  thing.  How  much  more 
should  we  stand  in  awe  of  God,  who  is  perfect,  and  whose  wonderful 
works  as  we  see  them  within  us  and  in  the  world  about  us,  fill  us  with 
that  sublime  religious  feeling  which  is  called  in  the  Bible  "  the  fear 
of  God."  That  feeling  makes  us  love  him,  and  long  to  become  per- 
fect like  him,  it  makes  us  worship  him,  makes  us  obedient  to  his  holy 
will,  it  keeps  us  pure  and  elevates  our  spiritual  nature. 


Acquaint  thyself  with  God  if  thou  wouldst  taste 

His  works ;  admitted  once  to  his  embrace, 

Thou  shalt  perceive  that  thou  wert  blind  before. 

Thine  eye  shalt  be  instructed,  and  thine  heart 

Made  pure  shall  relish,  with  divine  delight 

Till  then  unfelt,  what  hands  divine  hath  wrought."— Cowper. 

"  A  God  alone  can  comprehend  a  God." — Young, 


48  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

"  Live  with  men  as  if  God  saw  you." — Seneca. 


Prove  that  the  above  is  true  by  the  following  or  other  stories  in  the 
Bible  :     Example  :     I.  Chronicles  xxviii. 


1.  Come  ye  children,  hearken  unto  me  ;  the  fear  of  the  Lord  will 
I  teach  you.     (Psalms  xxxiv.  12.) 

2.  Do  now  hear  this,  O  sottish  people,  who  have  no  heart ;  who 
have  eyes,  and  see  not;  who  have  ears,  and  hear  not.  Will  ye  not 
fear  me  ?  saith  the  Lord ;  will  ye  not  tremble  at  my  presence,  who 
have  placed  the  sand  as  a  bound  for  the  sea  by  an  everlasting  law, 
which  it  can  never  pass  over?  And  though  the  waves  thereof  be  up- 
heaved, yet  can  they  not  prevail,  though  they  roar,  yet  can  they 
not  pass  over  it.  But  this  people  hath  a  stubborn  and  a  rebellious 
heart;  they  have  departed  (from  the  right)  and  have  gone  their  way. 
And  they  have  not  said  in  their  heart,  "  Let  us  now  fear  the  Lord  our 
God,  that  giveth  rain,  the  early  and  the  latter  rain  in  its  season ;  the 
appointed  weeks  of  the  harvest  doth  he  ever  preserve  for  us."  (Jere- 
miah v.  21-24.) 

3.  Who  would  not  fear  thee,  O  King  of  the  nations  ?  for  to  thee 
doth  it  appertain ;  because  among  all  the  wise  men  of  the  nations  and 
in  all  their  kingdoms  (they  say)  there  is  none  like  unto  thee.  (Jere- 
miah x.  7.) 

4.  Only  fear  the  Lord  and  serve  him  in  truth  with  all  your  heart ; 
for  see  what  great  things  he  hath  done  with  you.    (I.  Samuel  xii.  24. ) 

5.  And  now,  Israel,  what  doth  the  Lord  thy  God  require  of  thee, 
but  to  fear  the  Lord  thy  God,  to  walk  in  all  his  ways,  and  to  love 
him  and  to  serve  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart  and  with  all  thy 
soul,  to  keep  the  commandments  of  the  Lord  and  his  statutes,  which 
I  command  thee  this  day  for  thine  own  good  ?  Behold,  to  the  Lord 
thy  God  belong  the  heavens  and  the  heavens  of  heavens,  and  the 
earth  with  all  that  is  thereon.     (Deuteronomy  x.  12-14.) 

6.  A  son  honoreth  his  father  and  a  servant  his  master ;  if  then  I 
be  a  father,  where  is  my  honor,  and  if  I  be  a  master  where  is  the  fear 
of  me?  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts.     (Malachi  i.  6.) 


OUR    RELIGIOUS    DUTIES.  49 

7.  Fear  not;  for  in  order  to  prove  you,  did  God  come,  and  in 
order  that  his  fear  may  be  before  your  faces,  that  ye  sin  not.  (Exodus 
xx.  17.) 

8.  Happy  is  the  man  that  feareth  the  Lord,  that  greatly  delighteth 
in  his  commandments.     (Psalms  cxii.  i.) 

9.  The  fear  of  the  Lord  increaseth  (man's)  days;  but  the  years 
of  the  wicked  shall  be  shortened.      (Proverbs  x.  27.) 

10.  When  I  call  on  the  name  of  the  Lord,  ascribe  ye  greatness 
unto  our  God.     (Deuteronomy  xxxii.  3. ) 

1 1.  Suffer  not  thy  heart  to  be  rash,  and  let  thy  heart  not  be  hasty 
to  utter  any  word  before  God;  for  God  is  in  the  heavens  and  thou 
art  upon  the  earth ;  therefore,  let  thy  words  be  few.     ( Ecclesiastes 

V.    I.) 

12.  The  Lord  thy  God  shalt  thou  fear;  him  shalt  thou  serve,  and 
to  him  shalt  thou  clevae,  and  by  his  name  shalt  thou  swear.  (Deu- 
teronomy x.  20.) 

13.  And  if  thou  wilt  swear,  As  the  Lord  liveth,  in  truth,  in  justice 
and  in  righteousness,  then  shall  nations  bless  themselves  in  him,  and  in 
him  shall  they  glorify  themselves.     (Jeremiah  iv.  2.) 

14.  And  ye  shall  not  swear  by  my  name  falsely,  and  thou  shalt  not 
thus  profane  the  name  of  thy  God  ;  I  am  the  Lord.    (Leviticus  xix.  12.) 

15.  And  I  will  come  near  unto  you  to  (hold)  judgment ;  and  I  will 
be  a  swift  witness  against  the  sorcerers,  and  against  the  adulterers, 
and  against  those  that  svyear  falsely,  and  against  those  that  withhold 
the  wages  of  the  hired  laborer,  (oppress)  the  widow  and  the  father- 
less, and  that  do  injustice  to  the  stranger,  and  who  fear  me  not,  saith 
the  Lord  of  hosts.     (Malachiiii.  5.) 

16.  Then  conversed  they  that  fear  the  Lord  one  with  the  other ;  and 
the  Lord  listened  and  heard  it,  and  there  was  written  a  book  of  re- 
membrance before  him  for  those  who  fear  the  Lord  and  for  those  who 
respect  his  name.      (Malachiiii.  16.) 

17.  Who  shall  ascend  unto  the  mountain  of  the  Lord?  and  who 
shall  be  able  to  stand  in  his  holy  place?  He  that  is  clean  of  hands 
and  pure  of  heart ;  who  hath  not  lifted  up  his  soul  unto  falsehood  and 


50  BIBLE   ETHICS. 

hath  not  sworn  deceitfully.  He  shall  bear  away  blessing  from  the 
Lord,  and  (the  reward  of)  righteousness  from  the  God  of  his  salva- 
tion.    (Psalms  xxiv.  3-5.) 

III.— THOU  SHALT  LOVE   GOD   THY   LORD   WITH   ALL 

THY  HEART. 

The  first  feelings  of  love  are  awakened  in  our  hearts  by  the  kind- 
ness, the  gentleness  and  love  of  those  who  are  so  tireless  and  patient 
in  taking  care  of  us.  As  we  grow  older  and  can  use  our  minds  in 
directing  the  feelings  of  our  hearts,  it  is  toward  that  which  is  true  and 
beautiful  in  character  and  in  grace  that  we  are  drawn.  How  much 
more  then  should  we  be  drawn  in  love  toward  God,  who  is  our  ideal 
of  perfection  in  kindness,  power  and  holiness. 


"Thou,  myall! 
My  theme,  my  inspiration,  and  my  crown ! 
My  strength  in  age,  my  rise  in  low  estate ! 
My  soul's  ambition,  pleasure,  wealth!  My  world, 
My  light  in  darkness  !  and  my  life  in  death ! 
My  boast  through  time !  bliss  through  eternity ! 
Eternity,  too  short  to  speak  thy  praise  ! 
Or  fathom  thy  profound  love  to  man." — Young. 


1.  And  thou  shalt  love  the  Lord  thy  God  with  all  thy  heart  and 
with  all  thy  soul  and  with  all  thy  might.     (Deuteronomy  vi.  5. ) 

2.  Take  good  heed,  therefore,  for  your  soul's  sake,  to  love  the 
Lord  your  God.     (Joshua  xxiii.  n.) 

3.  Thou  shalt,  therefore,  love  the  Lord  thy  God,  and  keep  his 
charge,  and  his  statutes,  and  his  ordinances,  and  his  commandments 
all  the  days.      (Deuteronomy  xi.  1.) 

4.  For  if  ye  will  diligently  keep  all  this  commandment  which  I 
command  you,  in  order  to  do  it,  to  love  the  Lord  your  God,  to  walk 
in  all  his  ways  and  to  cleave  unto  him.     (Deuteronomy  xi.  22.) 


OUR    RELIGIOUS   DUTIES.  5 1 

5.  In  that  I  command  thee  this  day  to  love  the  Lord  thy  God,  to 
walk  in  his  ways  and  to  keep  his  commandments  and  his  statutes  and 
his  ordinances,  that  thou  mayest  live  and  multiply ;  and  that  the  Lord 
thy  God  will  bless  thee  in  the  lands  whither  thou  goest  to  possess 
it.     (Deuteronomy  xxx.  16.) 

6.  To  love  the  Lord  thy  God,  to  hearken  to  his  voice  and  to  cleave 
unto  him;  for  he  is  thy  life  and  the  length  of  thy  days.  (Deuter- 
onomy xxx.  20) 

IV.— BE  THANKFUL  FOR  ALL  OF  GOD'S  GOODNESS. 

The  world  is  full  of  wonderful  things  in  which  we  find  healing  for 
our  pains,  satisfaction  for  our  hunger  and  thirst,  pleasures  for  our 
senses,  and  untold  delights  for  the  heart.  All  these  things  should  fill 
,us  with  a  deep  gratitude  to  the  great  giver — God.  We  can  do  noth- 
ing to  repay  him  for  all  his  kindness;  all  we  can  do  is  to  try  and  be 
worthy  of  it. 

We  despise  the  man  who  is  ungrateful  for  any  kindness  shown  to 
him,  how  much  more  is  he  to  be  despised  who  fails  to  thank  his  Maker. 

Let  us  rejoice  and  be  glad  in  God's  goodness  and  bring  thanks  to 
him  with  full  and  joyous  hearts,  in  prayer,  in  praise  and  in  song. 


"  Whatever  will  make  us  better,  happier,  God  has  placed  either  openly 
before  us  or  very  close  to  us." — Seneca. 

"  Let  us  never  day  nor  night  unhallowed  pass, 
But  still  remember  what  the  Lord  hath  done." — Shakespeare. 

"  Thank  God  for  rest, 
Where  none  molest, 
And  none  can  make  afraid ; 
For  Peace  that  sits 
As  Plenty's  guest 
Beneath  the  homestead's  shade." 


52  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

Prove  that  the  above  is  true  by  the  following  or  other  stories  in  the 
Bible:     Examples:     I.  Samuel  i.,  ii.;  I.  Samuel  xii.;  II.  Samuel  xxii. 


i.  I  am  not  worthy  of  all  the  kindness  and  of  all  the  truth  which 
thou  hast  shown  unto  thy  servant.     ^Genesis  xxxii.  n.) 

2.  What  shall  I  give  in  return  unto  the  Lord  for  all  his  bounties 
toward  me  ?     (Psalms  cxvi.  12.) 

3.  They  (therefore)  shall  give  thanks  unto  the  Lord  for  his  kind- 
ness, and  (proclaim)  his  wonders  to  the  children  of  men!  For  he  sat- 
isfied the  longing  soul,  and  the  hungry  soul  he  filled  with  good. 
(Psalms  cvii.  8-9.  ) 

4.  When  thou  hast  eaten  and  art  satisfied,  then  shalt  thou  bless  the 
Lord  thy  God  for  the  good  land  which  he  hath  given  thee.  (Deu- 
teronomy viii.  10.) 

5.  Take  heed  unto  thyself  that  thou  forget  not  the  Lord  thy  God, 
so  as  not  to  keep  his  commandments,  and  his  ordinances,  and  his' 
statutes,  which  I  command  thee  this  day ;  that  when  thou  hast  eaten 
and  art  satisfied  and  hast  built  goodly  houses,  and  dwelt  therein  ;  and 
when  thy  herds  and  thy  flocks  multiply,  and  thy  silver  and  thy  gold 
are  multiplied,  and  all  that  thou  hast  is  multiplied :  Thy  h^art  be 
then  not  lifted  up,  and  thou  forget  the  Lord  thy  God  who  hath  brought 
thee  forth  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt,  from  the  house  of  slavery ;  who 
hath  led  thee  through  the  great  and  terrible  wilderness,  wherein  are 
snakes,  poisonous  serpents  and  scorpions,  and  drought,  where  there 
is  no  water ;  who  hath  brought  forth  for  thee  water  out  of  the  flinty 
rock ;  who  hath  fed  thee  in  the  wilderness  with  manna,  which  thy 
fathers  knew  not;  in  order  to  afflict  thee,  and  in  order  to  prove  thee, 
to  do  thee  good  at  thy  latter  end;  and  thou  say  in  thy  heart,  "  My 
power  and  the  strength  of  my  hand  have  gotten  me  this  wealth."  But 
thou  shalt  remember  the  Lord  thy  God ;  for  it  is  he  that  giveth  thee 
power  to  get  wealth  ;  in  order  that  he  might  fulfill  his  covenant  which 
he  hath  sworn  unto  thy  fathers,  as  it  is  this  day.  (Deuteronomy  viii. 
11-18.) 


OUR    RELIGIOUS   DUTIES.  53 

6.  Will  ye  thus  requite  the  Lord,  O  people,  worthless  and  un- 
wise ?  Is  he  not  thy  father  who  hath  bought  thee  ?  Is  it  not  he  who 
hath  made  thee,  and  established  thee ?     (Deuteronomy  xxxii.  6.) 

7.  I  will  thank  thee  with  uprightness  of  heart,  when  I  learn  thy 
righteous  ordinances.      (Psalms  cxix.  7.  ) 

8.  It  is  a  good  thing  to  give  thanks  unto  the  Lord  and  to  sing 
praises  unto  thy  name,  O  Most  High !  To  tell  in  the  morning  of  thy 
kindness  and  of  thy  faithfulness  in  the  nights.     (Psalms  xcii.  2-3.) 

9.  Hallelujah !  Praise,  O  my  soul,  the  Lord.  I  will  praise  the 
Lord  throughout  my  life ;  I  will  sing  praises  unto  my  God  while  I 
have  any  being.     (Psalms  cxlvi.  1-2.) 

10.  Bat  as  for  us,  we  will  bless  the  Lord  from  this  time  forth  and 
for  evermore.     Hallelujah!     (Psalms  cxv.  18.) 

11.  But  verily  God  hath  heard :  he  hath  listened  to  the  voice  of 
my  prayer.  Blessed  be  God  who  hath  not  removed  my  prayer  (from 
him)  nor  his  kindness  from  me.     (Psalms  lxvi.  19-20.) 

12.  Blessed  be  the  Lord,  because  he  hath  heard  the  voice  of  my 
supplications.  The  Lord  is  my  strength  and  my  shield;  in  him  hath 
my  heart  trusted,  and  I  am  helped,  and  my  heart  exulteth;  and  with 
my  song  will  I  thank  him.     (Psalms  xxviii.  6-7. ) 

13.  I  will  praise  the  name  of  God  with  song,  and  will  magnify  him 
with  thanksgiving.  And  this  will  please  the  Lord  better  than  an  ox 
or  bullock  having  horns  and  cloven  hoofs.  The  meek  will  see  this 
and  be  rejoiced;  ye  that  seek  God,  and  your  heart  shall  rejoice.  For 
the  Lord  listeneth  unto  the  needy,  and  his  prisoners  he  despiseth  not. 
Let  heaven  and  earth  praise  him,  the  seas,  and  everything  that  mov- 
eth  therein.     (Psalms  lxix.  31-35.) 

14.  All  thy  works  shall  thank  thee,  O  Lord,  and  thy  pious  servants 
shall  bless  thee.     (Psalms  cxl v.  10.) 

15.  Hallelujah;  for  the  Lord  is  good;  sing  praises  unto  his  holy 
name ;  for  it  is  lovely.  For  Jacob  hath  the  Lord  chosen  unto  him- 
self, Israel,  as  his  peculiar  treasure.     (Psalms  cxxxv.  3-4.) 

16.  A  song  of  the  degrees  by  David.  If  it  had  not  been  the  Lord 
who  was  for  us,  so  should  Israel  say ;  if  it  had  not  been  the  Lord  who 


54  BIBLE   ETHICS. 

was  for  us,  when  men  rose  up  against  us;  then  would  they  have 
swallowed  us  up  alive  when  their  wrath  was  kindled  against  us;  then 
would  the  waters  have  overwhelmed  us,  the  stream  would  have  passed 
over  our  soul.  Then  would  have  passed  over  our  soul  the  presumptu- 
ous waters.  Bless  the  Lord  who  hath  not  given  us  up  as  a  prey  to 
their  teeth.  Our  soul  is  escaped  like  the  bird  out  of  the  snare  of  the 
fowlers ;  the  snare  is  broken  and  we  are  escaped.  Our  help  is  in  the 
name  of  the  Lord,  the  maker  of  heaven  and  earth.   (Psalms  cxxiv.) 

17.  A  psalm  of  thanksgiving.  Shout  joyfully  unto  the  Lord  all  ye 
ands.  Serve  the  Lord  with  joy;  come  before  his  piesence  with  tri- 
umphal song.  Know  that  the  Lord  is  God  indeed ;  it  is  he  that  hath 
made  us,  and  his  are  we — his  people  and  the  flock  of  his  pasture. 
Enter  his  gates  with  thanksgiving,  his  courts  with  praise ;  give  thanks 
unto  him,  bless  his  name.  For  the  Lord  is  good,  to  eternity  endureth 
his  kindness  and  unto  the  latest  generation  his  truth.     (Psalms  c. ) 

V.— TRUST  FIRMLY  IN  GOD  AND  BOW  WITH  PIOUS 
HUMILITY  TO  HIS  WILL. 

Although  man  has  been  created  in  the  image  of  God,  although  he 
has  been  gifted  with  reason  and  judgment,  still  he  is  but  a  mortal. 
His  knowledge  is  limited,   it  can  not  reach  beyond  the  sphere  which 
has  been  assigned  to  him.     Everywhere  we  are  surrounded  by  mys- 
teries and  wonders,  before  which  we  stand  in  awe. 

Oftentimes  we  are  afflicted  with  troubles  and  suffering,  which  in  our 
shortsightedness  we  regard  as  unjust.  But  whatever  of  evil  happens 
to  us  we  must  humbly  submit  to  it.  "  The  mysteries  and  secret  things 
belong  to  the  Eternal,  our  God."  God's  wisdom  is  beyond  our  com- 
prehension. What  we  regard  as  wrong  often  turns  out  to  be  of  great 
benefit.  God  strikes,  but  he  also  heals,  and  in  his  healing  there  is 
more  of  Divine  blessing  than  there  has  been  evil  in  his  strokes. 


OUR    RELIGIOUS    DUTIES.  55 

"  Oh,  deem  not  they  are  blest  alone, 
Whose  lives  a  peaceful  tenor  keep  ! 
The  power  who  pities  man  hath  shown, 
A  blessing  for  the  eyes  that  weep. 

"  The  light  of  smiles  shall  fill  again, 
The  lids  that  overflow  with  tears, 
And  weary  hours  of  woe  and  pain, 
Are  promises  of  happier  years." — William  Cullen  Bryant. 

"  God  shall  be  my  hope, 
My  stay,  my  guide  and  lantern  to  my  feet." — Shakespeare. 

"  The  good  are  better  made  by  ill, 
As  odors  crushed  are  sweeter  still." — Rogers. 

"The  path  of  sorrow,  and  that  path  alone, 
Leads  to  the  land  where  sorrow  is  unknown." — Cowper. 

"  Nor  let  the  good  man's  trust  depart, 
Though  life  its  common  gifts  deny, 
Though  with  a  pierced  and  bleeding  heart, 
And  spurned  of  man,  he  goes  to  die. 
"  For  God  hath  marked  each  sorrowing  day, 
And  numbered  every  sacred  tear, 
And  Heaven's  long  age  of  bliss  shall  pay 
For  all  his  children  suffers  here." 

—  William  Cullen  Bryant. 

Prove  that  the  above  are  true  by  the  following  or  other  stones  in 
the  Bible:  Examples:  II.  Samuel  xii.  16-23;  II.  Chronicles  xxxii. 
1-27;  Job  iv.,  xiii. 


1.  That  thy  trust  may  be  in  the  Lord,  have  I  made  them  known 
to  thee  this  day,  yea,  even  to  thee.     (Proverbs  xxii.  19.) 

2.  He  giveth  to  the  faint  strength;  and  to  the  powerless  he  im- 
parteth  much  might. 

Though  youths  should  grow  faint  and  be  weary,  and  young  men 
should  utterly  stumble : 

Yet  they  that  wait  upon  the  Lord  shall  acquire  new  strength,  they 


5  6  BIBLE   ETHICS. 

shall  mount  up  with  wings  as  eagles;  they  shall  run  and  not  be  weary, 
they  shall  walk  and  not  become  faint.     (Isaiah  xl.  29-31.) 

3.  The  Lord  is  my  rock,  and  my  fortress,  and  my  deliverer ;  my 
God,  my  rock,  in  whom  I  trust;  my  shield  and  the  horn  of  my  salva- 
tion, and  my  high  tower.     (Psalms  xviii.  3.  ) 

4.  For  thou  wilt  cause  my  light  to  shine  ;  the  Lord  my  God  will 
enlighten  my  darkness. 

For  (aided)  by  thee  I  run  through  a  troop;  and  (helped)  by  my 
God  I  leap  over  a  wall.  As  for  God  his  way  is  perfect;  the  word 
of  the  Lord  is  tried;  he  is  a  shield  to  all  those  that  trust  in  him. 
(Psalms  xviii.  29-31.) 

5.  But  the  Lord  will  sit  enthroned  forever;  he  hath  established 
forgiving  judgment  his  throne. 

And  he  will  judge  the  world  with  righteousness,  he  shall  decide  for 
the  people  with  equity. 

The  Lord  also  will  be  a  stronghold  for  the  oppressed,  a  stronghold 
in  times  of  distress.     And  they  that  know  thy  name  will  put  their 
trust  in  thee ;  for  thou  hast  not  forsaken  those  that  seek  thee,  O  Lord  ! 
(Psalms  ix.  8-1 1.  ) 

6.  Unto  thee,  O  Lord,  do  I  lift  up  my  soul.  O  my  God,  in  thee 
do  I  trust,  let  me  not  be  ashamed,  let  not  mine  enemies  triumph  over 
me. 

Yea,  none  that  wait  on  thee  will  be  put  to  shame :  let  those  be  put 
to  shame  who  deal  treacherously  without  cause.  Show  me,  O  Lord, 
thy  ways ;  teach  me  thy  paths. 

Lead  me  in  thy  truth,  and  teach  me ;  for  thou  art  the  God  of  my 
salvation;  on  thee  do  I  wait  all  the  day.     (Psalms  xxv.  1-5. ) 

7      It  is  good  for  a  man  that  he  bear  the  yoke  in  his  youth ; 

That  he  sit  in  solitude  and  be  silent ;  because  he  hath  laid  it  upon 
him; 

That  he  put  his  mouth  in  the  dust;  perhaps  there  still  is  hope; 

That  he  offer  his  cheek  to  him  that  smiteth  him ;  that  he  be  satisfied 
with  reproach ; 

For  the  Lord  will  not  cast  off  forever ; 


OUR    RELIGIOUS   DUTIES.  57 

But  though  he  have  caused  grief,  yet  will  he  have  mercy,  according 
to  the  abundance  of  his  kindness.     (Lamentations  iii.  27-32.) 

8.  For  thus  hath  said  the  Lord  Eternal,  the  Holy  One  of  Israel, 
In  repose  and  rest  shall  ye  be  helped ;  in  quietness  and  in  confidence 
shall  be  your  strength.     (Isaiah  xxx.  15.) 

9.  And  Moses  said  unto  the  people,  "  Fear  ye  not,  standstill,  and 
see  the  salvation  of  the  Lord,  which  he  will  do  for  you  to-day ;  for  as 
ye  have  seen  the  Egyptians  to-day,  ye  shall  not  see  them  again  any 
more  forever.  The  Lord  shall  fight  for  you  and  you  shall  hold  your 
peace."     (Exodus  xiv.  13,  14.) 

10.  He  is  the  Lord;  let  him  do  what  seemeth  good  in  his  eyes. 
(I.  Samuel  iii.  18.) 

it.  And  the  King  said  unto  Zadok,  "  Carry  back  the  ark  of  God 
into  the  city ;  if  I  shall  find  favor  in  the  eyes  of  the  Lord,  he  will 
bring  me  back  again,  and  show  me  both  it  and  his  dwelling. 

But  if  he  should  thus  say,  I  have  no  delight  in  thee ;  here  am  I,  let 
him  do  to  me  as  seemeth  good  in  his  eyes/'    (II.  Samuel  xv.  25,  26.) 

The  Lord  gave,  and  the  Lord  hath  taken  away,  may  the  name  of 
the  Lord  be  blessed.     (Job  i.  21.) 

13.  The  Lord  is  my  light  and  my  salvation,  of  whom  shall  I  be 
afraid?  The  Lord  is  the  fortress  of  my  life,  of  whom  shall  I  have 
dread?     (Psalms  xxvii.  1.) 

14.  And  the  Lord  it  is  that  goeth  before  thee;  he  will  be  with  thee, 
he  will  not  let  thee  fail,  nor  will  he  forsake  thee :  fear  not,  nor  be 
thou  discouraged.      (Deuteronomy  xxxi.  8.) 

15.  God  is  our  protection  and  strength,  a  help  in  distresses  very 
readily  found.  Therefore,  will  ye  not  fear,  even  when  the  earth  is 
transformed,  and  when  mountains  are  moved  into  the  heart  of  the 
seas.     (Psalms  xlvi.   1,  3.) 

16.  For  I,  the  Lord  thy  God,  lay  hold  of  thy  right  hand ;  (I  am 
he)  who  saith  unto  thee:  Fear  not  I  will  help  thee.     (Isaiah  xli.  13.  ) 

17.  Behold,  God  is  my  salvation:  I  will  trust  and  not  be  afraid  ; 
for  my  strength  and  song  is  Yah  the  Eternal ;  and  he  is  become  my 
salvation.     (Isaiah  xii.  2.) 


58  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

1 8.  O  Lord  of  hosts !  happy  is  the  man  that  trusteth  in  thee. 
(Psalms  lxxxiv.  13. ) 

19.  Unless  the  Lord  build  the  house,  in  vain  labor  they  that  build 
on  it ;  unless  the  Lord  guard  the  city,  in  vain  is  the  watchman  wake- 
ful. It  is  in  vain  for  you  to  be  early  in  rising,  to  be  late  in  sitting  up, 
eating  the  bread  of  painful  toils ;  (ior)  so  doth  he  give  unto  his  beloved 
sleep.     (Psalms  cxxvii.  j,  2.) 

20.  Trust  in  the  Lord  with  all  thy  heart ;  and  upon  thine  own  un- 
derstanding do  not  rely.     (Proverbs  iii.  5.) 

21.  Trust  in  the  Lord  and  do  good;  dwell  in  the  land  and  feed 
(thyself  with)  truthfulness.  And  delight  thyself  in  the  Lord,  and 
he  will  give  thee  the  wishes  of  thy  heart.  Commit  thy  way  unto  the 
Lord,  and  trust  in  him  :  and  he  will  accomplish  it.  And  he  will  bring 
forth  as  the  light  thy  righteousness,  and  the  justice  of  thy  (cause)  as 
the  noonday.  Be  silent  before  the  Lord,  and  wait  patiently  for  him  : 
fret  not  thyself  because  of  him*  who  prospereth  in  his  way,  because  of 
the  man  who  practices  wicked  devices.     (Psalms  xxxvii.  3-7.) 

22.  Yea,  in  God  hope  in  silence,  my  soul,  for  from  him  is  my 
expectation.  Only  he  is  my  rock  and  my  salvation;  (he  is)  my  de- 
fense; I  shall  not  be  moved.  With  God  are  my  salvation  and  my 
glory;  the  rock  of  my  strength  (and)  my  protection  are  in  «God. 
Trust  in  him  at  all  times,  O  ye  people;  pour  out  before  him  your 
heart :  God  is  our  protection  for  us.  Selah.  Verily,  nought  are  the 
sons  of  (common)  men,  a  lie  the  sons  of  (the  great)  men;  they 
must  rise  in  the  balance,  they  are  altogether  (lighter)  than  nought. 
Do  not  put  your  trust  in  defrauding :  and  be  not  rendered  vain 
through  robbery :  if  riches  flourish,  set  not  your  heart  (upon  them). 
Once  hath  God  spoken  (yea)  twice  (what)  I  have  heard;  that  strength 
belongeth  unto  God.     (Psalms  lxii.  6-12.) 

23.  '  *  Lo,  this  is  the  man  that  made  not  God  his  fortress,  but  trusted 
in  the  abundance  of  his  riches,  relied  proudly  on  his  mischievous 
wickedness."  But  I  am  like  a  green  olive  tree  in  the  house  of  God; 
I  trust  in  the  kindness  of  God  forever  and  ever.     I  will  thank  thee 


OUR    RELIGIOUS    DUTIES.  59 

forever  because  thou  hast  done  it;  and  I  will  wait  on  thy  name  for  (it 
is)  good  before  thy  pious  ones.     (Psalms  lii.  9-1 1.) 

24.  Thus  hath  said  the  Lord,  Cursed  is  the  man  that  trusteth  in 
man  and  placeth  on  flesh  his  dependence,  while  from  the  Lord  his 
heart  departeth.  And  he  shall  be  like  a  lonely  tree  in  the  desert, 
which  feeleth  not  when  the  good  cometh ;  but  abideth  in  the  parched 
places  in  the  wilderness,  in  a  salty  land  which  can  not  be  inhabited. 
Blessed  is  the  man  that  trusteth  in  the  Lord,  and  the  Lord  will  be  his 
trust.  And  he  shall  be  like  a  tree  that  is  planted  by  the  waters,  and 
by  a  stream  spreadeth  out  its  roots,  which  feeleth  not  when  the  heat 
cometh,  but  its  leaf  remaineth  green,  and  in  a  year  of  drought  it  is 
undisturbed  by  care  and  ceaseth  not  from  yielding  fruit.  (Jeremiah 
xvii.  5-8.) 

25.  The  Lord  is  for  me,  among  those  that  help  me;  therefore  shall 
I  indeed  look  on  (the  punishment  of)  those  that  hate  me.  It  is  better 
to  seek  shelter  with  the  Lord  than  to  trust  in  man.  It  is  better  to 
seek  shelter  with  the  Lord  than  to  trust  in  princes.     (Psalms  cxviii. 

7-9-) 

26.  Put  not  your  trust  in  princes,  in  the  son  of  man  in  whom  there 
is  no  salvation.  When  his  spirit  goeth  forth  he  returneth  to  his  (native) 
earth :  on  that  very  day  perish  his  thoughts.  But  happy  is  he  who 
hath  the  God  of  Jacob  for  his  help,  whose  hope  is  on  the  Lord  his 
God,  who  hath  made  heaven  and  earth,  the  sea  and  all  that  is  therein ; 
who  keepeth  truth  forever;  who  doeth  justice  for  the  oppressed;  who 
giveth  bread  to  the  hungry;  the  Lord  looseneth  the  prisoners;  the 
Lord  causeth  the  blind  to  see,'  the  Lord  raiseth  up  those  who  are 
bowed  down;  the  Lord  loveth  the  righteous;  the  Lord  guardeth 
the  strangers;  the  fatherless  and  widow  he  helpeth  up.  (Psalms 
cxlvi.  3-9. ) 

27.  Cast  thy  burden  upon  the  Lord,  and  he  will  sustain  thee  ;  he  will 
never  suffer  the  righteous  to  be  moved.     (Psalms  lv.   23. ) 

28.  O  fear  the  Lord,  ye,  his  saints ;  for  there  is  no  want  to  those 
who  fear  him.     (Psalms  xxxiv.  10.) 


60  BIBLE   ETHICS. 

29.  In  the  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the  strong  confidence  (of  man)  and 
unto  his  children  will  it  be  a  place  of  shelter.     (Proverbs  xiv.  26. ) 

30.  I  have  been  young,  and  I  am  also  grown  old,  yet  have  I  never 
seen  the  righteous  forsaken  nor  his  seed  seeking  for  bread.  (Psalms 
xxxvii.  25.) 

31.  But  now  thus  hath  said  the  Lord  that  created  thee,  O  Jacob, 
and  he  that  formed  thee,  O  Israel,  Fear  not,  for  I  have  redeemed 
thee,  I  have  called  thee  by  thy  name;  mine  art  thou.  Whenever 
thou  passeth  through  the  waters,  I  am  with  thee ;  and  through  the 
rivers — they  shall  not  overflow  thee  j  whenever  thou  walkest  through 
the  fire,  thou  shalt  not  be  scorched;  neither  shall  the  flame  burn  on 
thee.    (Isaiah  xliii.  1—2.) 

32.  I  lift  up  mine  eyes  unto  the  mountains;  whence  shall  come 
my  help?  My  help  is  from  the  Lord,  the  maker  of  heaven  and  earth. 
He  will  not  suffer  thy  foot  to  slip ;  thy  keeper  doth  not  slumber. 
Behold  he  slumbereth  not,  and  he  sleepeth  not — the  keeper  of  Israel. 
The  Lord  is  thy  keeper:  the  Lord  is  thy  shade,  he  is  on  thy  right 
hand.  By  day  the  sun  shall  not  strike  thee,  nor  the  moon  by  night. 
The  Lord  will  guard  thee  against  all  evil ;  he  will  guard  thy  soul. 
The  Lord  will  guard  thy  going  out  and  thy  coming  in  from  this  time 
forth  and  for  evermore.     (Psalms  cxxi.) 

33.  What?  Should  we  accept  the  good  alone  from  God,  and  the 
evil  we  should  not  accept?     (Job  ii.  10.) 

34.  The  correction  of  the  Lord,  my  son,  do  not  despise;  and 
feel  no  loathing  for  his  admonition;  because  whomever  the  Lord 
loveth  he  admonisheth;  and  as  a  father  who  delighteth  in  (his)  son. 
(Pioverbs  iii.  11,  12.) 

35.  And  thou  shalt  consider  in  thy  heart  that  as  a  man  chasten- 
eth  his  son,  so  doth  the  Lord  thy  God  chasten  thee.  (Deuteronomy 
viii.  5.) 

36.  Happy  is  the  man  whom  thou  admonishest,  O  Lord !  and 
teachest  him  out  of  thy  law.     (Psalms  xciv.  12.) 

37.  Behold,  happy  is  the  man  whom  God  admonisheth;  despise 
then  not  the  correction  of  the  Almighty.     For  he  it  is  that  woundeth, 


OUR    RELIGIOUS   DUTIES.  6l 

and  bindeth  up ;  he  smiteth,  and  his  hands  do  heal.  In  six  distresses 
will  he  deliver  thee  •  and  in  seven  there  shall  be  no  evil  touch  thee. 
In  famine  he  redeemeth  thee  from  death;  and  in  war  from  the  power 
of  the  sword.  Against  the  scourge  of  the  tongue  shalt  thou  be 
hidden ;  and  thou  needest  not  be  afraid  of  destruction  when  it  cometh. 
At  destruction  and  famine  canst  thou  laugh ;  and  thou  needest  not  have 
any  fear  of  the  beasts  of  the  earth.      (Job  v.  1 7-22. ) 

38.  Th«  Lord  is  good,  a  stronghold  on  the  day  of  distress;  and 
he  knoweth  those  that  trust  in  him.     (Nahum  i.  7.) 

39.  Behold,  the  eye  of  the  Lord  is  upon  those  that  fear  him,  and 
upon  those  that  hope  for  his  kindness,  to  deliver  from  death  their 
soul,  and  to  keep  them  alive  from  famine.  Our  soul  waiteth  for  the 
Lord :  our  help  and  our  shield  is  he.  For  in  him  shall  our  heart  re- 
joice :  because  in  his  holy  name  have  we  trusted.  Let  thy  kindness 
O  Lord,  be  upon  us,  even  as  we  hope  in  thee.  (Psalms  xxxiii.  18- 
22.) 

40.  Blessed  be  the  Lord;  day  by  day  he  loadeth  us  (with  bene- 
fits) ;  our  Lord  is  our  salvation.  Selah.  Our  God  is  to  us  the  God 
of  salvation ;  and  by  the  Eternal  the  Lord  are  the  escapes  from  death. 
(Psalms  lxviii.  20.  21.) 

41.  Why  art  thou  cast  down,  O  my  soul?  and  why  art  thou 
disquieted  within  me  ?  Hope  thou  in  God ;  for  I  shall  yet  thank  him, 
the  salvation  of  my  countenance  and  my  God.     (Psalms  xlii.  12.  ) 

VI.— BELIEVE  IN  GOD  AND  IN  NO  SUPERSTITION. 

A  strong  and  healthy  mind  will  never  allow  itself  to  be  troubled 
by  the  superstitious  beliefs,  the  ghostly  fears  and  the  foolish  practices 
of  so  many  weak-minded  people.  We  should  trust  firmly  in  God, 
knowing  that  he  is  wise  and  just.  And,  therefore,  it  is  wrong  for  us 
to  encourage  all  such  lying  persons  who  practice  deceit  in  order  to 
make  us  believe  that,  they  can  tell  what  is  going  to  happen,  for  this 
God  has  wisely  hidden  from  the  eyes  of  all  men. 


62  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

"  God  can  change  the  lowest  to  the  highest, 
Abase  the  proud,  and  raise  the  humble." — Horace. 

"  Is  there  any  other  seat  of  the  Divinity  than  the  earth,  sea,  air,  the 
heavens,  and  virtuous  minds?  Why  do  you  seek  God  elsewhere?  He  is 
whatever  you  seethe  is  wherever  you  move." — Lucan. 

"  Nothing  is  more  deceitful  in  appearance  than  false  religion." — Livy. 


Prove  that  the  above  are  true  by  the  following  or  other  stories  in 
the  Bible :  Examples :  II.  Chronicles  vi.  ;  II.  Chronicles  xxxii. ; 
Daniel  in,  v.,  vi. 


i.  Ye  shall  not  tempt  the.  Lord  your  God  as  ye  tempted  him  in 
Massah.     (Deuteronomy  vi.  16. ) 

2.  Harden  not  your  heart  as  at  Meribah,  as  on  the  day  of  the 
temptation  in  the  wilderness,  when  your  fathers  tempted  me,  proved 
me,  although  they  had  seen  my  doing.      (Psalms  xcv.  8,  g. ) 

3.  Yea,  they  spoke  against  God  :  they  said,  "  Will  God  be  able  to 
set  in  order  a  table  in  the  wilderness?  Behold,  he  smote  the  rock, 
so  that  waters  gushed  out,  and  streams  overflowed;  shall  he  also  be 
able  to  give  bread  ?  or  can  he  provide  flesh  for  his  people  ?  Because 
they  had  not  believed  in  God,  and  had  not  trusted  in  his  salvation." 
(Psalms  lxxviii.  19,  20,  22.) 

4.  Yea,  they  once  more  tempted  God,  and  set  limits  to  the  Holy 
One  of  Israel.  They  remembered  not  his  hand,  the  day  when  he 
ransomed  them  from  the  adversary.      (Psalms  lxxviii.  41,  42.) 

5.  But  Achaz  said,  "  I  will  not  ask,  and  I  will  not  tempt  the  Lord." 
(Isaiah  vii.  12.) 

6.  There  shall  not  be  found  among  thee  any  one  who  causeth  hi 
son  or  his  daughter  to  pass  through  the  fire,  one  who  usetft  the  divi- 
nation, one  who  is  an  observer  of  times,  or  an  enchanter,  or  a  con- 
jurer, or  a  charmer  or  a  consulter  with  familiar  spirits,  or  a  wizard, 
who  inquireth  of  the  dead.  For  an  abomination  unto  the  Lord  are 
all  that  do  these  things.     (Deuteronomy  xviii.   10   12.) 

7.  And  the  person  that  turneth  unto  such  as  have  familiar  spirits, 


OUR    RELIGIOUS    DUTIES.  63 

and  unto  wizards,  to  go  astray  after  them— then  will  I  set  my  face 
against  that  person  and  will  cut  him  off  from  among  his  people. 
(Leviticus  xx.  6.) 

8.  Thus  hath  said  the  Lord,  Do  not  habituate  yourselves  to  the 
way  of  the  nations,  and  at  the  signs  of  the  heaven  be  ye  not  dis- 
mayed; although  the  nations  should  be  dismayed  at  them.  (Jere- 
miah  x.  2.) 

9.  I  hate  those  that  depend  on  lying  vanities ;  but  I  trust  indeed 
in  the  Lord.     (Psalms  xxxi.  7.) 

10.  Happy  is  the  man  that  maketh  the  Lord  his  trust,  and  turneth^ 
not  unto  the  proud  nor  such  as  stray  aside  unto  lies.     (Psalms  xl.  5. ) 

VIK—  WORSHIP  GOD  WITH  AN  UPRIGHT  HEART. 

The  feeling  to  pray,  to  pour  forth  our  thanks  to  God  for  all  his 
loving  kindness  is  deep-seated  within  every  good  and  moral  man. 
As  long  as  there  is  a  pure,  filial  relationship  between  man  and  God 
so  long  will  prayer  be  a  necessity.  It  is  natural  for  a  man  to  com- 
mune with  God,  when  he  is  in  harmony  with  himself  and  his  Maker. 
There  are  various  ways  of  praying,  but  when  sincerely  performed, 
the  result  is  ever  the  same,  pleasing  to  God  and  exercising  a  bene- 
ficial, moral  and  educating  influence  on  the  one  who  prays. 

"  Prayer  is  the  soul's  sincere  desire, 
Uttered  or  unexpressed ; 
The  motion  of  a  hidden  fire, 
That  trembles  in  the  breast. 

"  Prayer  is  the  burden  of  a  sigh, 
The  falling  of  a  tear ; 
The  upward  glancing  of  an  eye, 
AVhen  none  but  God  is  near. 

"  Prayer  is  the  simplest  form  of  speech 
That  infant  lips  can  try ; 
Prayer  the  sublimest  strains  that  reach 
The  majesty  on  high."— James  Montgomery. 


64  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

"  He  prayeth  best,  who  loveth  best 
All  things,  both  great  and  small." — Coleridge. 

'■'  No  man  can  pray  heartily  without  learning  something." — Emerson. 

"The  first  petition  that  we  are  to  make  to  Almighty  God  is  for  a  good 
conscience,  the  next  for  health  of  mind,  and  then  of  body." — Seneca. 

11  Be  not  afraid  to  pray— to  pray  is  right." — Hartly  Coleridge. 

"  What  greater  calamity  can  fall  upon  a  nation  than  the  loss  of  worship?" 
— Emerson. 

"Things  sacred  should  not  only  not  be  touched  with  the  hands,  but  not 
violated  in  thought." — Cicero. 


Prove  that  the  above  are  true  by  the  following  or  other  stories  in 
the  Bible  :     Example  :     II.  Chronicles  xxix. 


i.  Watch  thy  foot  when  thou  goest  to  the  house  of  God.  (Ec- 
clesiates  iv.  17.) 

2.  How  fearful  is  this  place!  this  is  none  other  but  the  house  of 
God,  and  this  is  the  gate  of  heaven.     (Genesis  xxviii.  17.) 

3.  The  Lord  is  nigh  unto  those  that  are  broken-hearted,  he  saveth 
those  that  are  of  a  contrite  spirit.     (Psalms  tfxxiv.  19.) 

4.  The  Lord  is  nigh  unto  ajl  those  who  call  on  him,  to  all  who 
call  on  him  in  truth.  The  desire  of  those  who  fear  him  will  he  fulfill, 
and  their  cry  will  he  hear  and  save  them.     (Psalms  cxlv.  18,  19. ) 

5.  O  Lord !  open  thou  my  lips,  and  my  mouth  shall  declare  thy 
praise.  For  thou  desirest  not  sacrifice ;  else  would  I  give  it ;  in 
burnt  offering  hast  thou  no  delight.  The  sacrifices  of  God  are  a 
broken  spirit ;  a  broken  and  a  contrite  heart,  O  God,  wilt  thou  not 
despise.     (Psalms  li.  17-19.) 

6.  To  my  words  give  ear,  O  Lord!  have  regard  to  my  medita- 
tion. Listen  unto  the  voice  of  my  loud  cry,  my  King  and  my  God, 
when  unto  thee  I  pray.  O  Lord,  in  the  morning  do  thou  hear  my 
voice  :  in  the  morning  will  I  set  in  order  (my  prayer)  before  thee, 
and  look  up  with  hope.     (Psalms  v.  2-4  ) 


OUR    RELIGIOUS    DUTIES.  65 

7.  I,  however,  will  call  on  God ;  and  the  Lord  will  save  me.  At 
evening  and  morning  and  noon  will  I  make  my  complaint  and  moan; 
and  he  heareth  my  voice.     (Psalms  ly.  17,  18.) 

8.  But  thou,  O  Lord,  art  a  shield  around  me,  my  glory  and  he 
that  lifteth  up  my  head.  With  my  voice  I  call  unto  the  Lord,  and  he 
answereth  me  out  of  his  holy  mountain.  Selah.  I  laid  myself  down 
and  slept:  I  awoke;  for  the  Lord  sustaineth  me.     (Psalms  iii.  4-6.) 

9  May  the  words  of  my  mouth,  and  the  meditation  of  my  heart 
be  acceptable  before  thee,  O  Lord,  my  Rock  and  my  Redeemer. 
(Psalms  xix.  15.) 

10.  It  is  lovely  to  me  that  the  Lord  heareth  my  voice;  my  sup- 
plications, for  he  hath  inclined  his  ear  unto  me :  therefore  through- 
out all  my  days  will  I  call  on  him.  The  bands  of  death  had  com- 
passed me,  and  the  pangs  of  the  nether  world  had  overtaken  me ;  I 
had  met  with  distress  and  sorrow.  I  then  called  on  the  name  of  the 
Lord,  I  beseech  thee,  O  Lord!  release  my  soul.  Gracious"  is  the 
Lord  and  righteous ;  and  our  God  is  merciful.  The  Lord  preserveth 
the  simple ;  I  was  in  misery  and  he  helped  me.  Return,  O  my  soul  1 
unto  thy  rest :  for  the  Lord  hath  dealt  bountifully  with  thee.  For  thou 
hast  delivered  my  soul  from  death,  mine  eyes  from  tears,  my  feet  from 
falling.      (Psalms  cxvi.  1-8.) 

11.  The  sacrifice  of  the  wicked  is  an  abomination  of  the  Lord; 
but  the  prayer  of  the  upright  obtaineth  his  favor.     (Proverbs  xv.  8.) 

12.  And  the  Lord  said,  Forasmuch  as  this  people  draw  near  with 
their  mouth,  and  with  their  lips  do  honor  me,  but  have  removed  their 
heart  far  from  me,  and  their  fear  toward  me  is  but  the  acquired  pre- 
cept of  men :  Therefore,  behold,  I  will  do  yet  farther  a  marvelous 
work  with  this  people,  doing  wonder  on  wonder ;  so  that  the  wisdom 
of  their  wise  men  shall  be  lost,  and  the  understanding  of  their  prudent 
men  shall  be  hidden.      (Isaiah  xxix.  13,  14.) 

13.  Because  thy  kindness  is  better  than  life,  my  lips  shall  praise 
thee.  Thus  will  I  bless  thee  while  I  live;  in  thy  name  will  I  lift  up 
my  hands.  When  I  remember  thee  upon  my  couch,  I  meditate 
on   thee  in   the  night-watches.     Because  thou    hast    been    a    help 


66  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

unto  me;  and  in  the  shadow  of  thy  wings  will  I  sing  rejoicingly.  My 
soul  cleaveth  unto  following  thee  :  me  thy  right  hand  upholdeth. 
(Psalms  lxiii.  4,  5,  7-9.) 

14.  But  as  for  me,  in  the  abundance  of  thy  kindness  will  I  enter 
thy  house ;  I  will  bow  myself  down  before  thy  holy  temple  in  fear  of 
thee.     (Psalms  v.  8. ) 

15.  Hallelujah  :  for  it  is  good  to  sing  praises  unto  our  God  ;  for  it 
is  comely;  (him)  becometh  praise.     (Psalms  cxlvii.  1.) 

16.  I  will  bless  the  Lord  at  all  times  :  continually  shall  his  praise 
be  in  my  mouth.  My  soul  shall  make  her  boast  in  the  Lord :  the 
humble  shall  hear  it  and  be  rejoiced.  O  magnify  the  Lord  with 
me,  and  let  us  exalt  his  name  together.  I  sought  the  Lord,  and  he 
answered  me,  and  from  all  that  I  dreaded  did  he  deliver  me.  This 
poor  man  cried,  and  the  Lord  heard  him,  and  out  of  all  his  distresses 
did  he  save  him.  The  angel  of  the  Lord  encampeth  round  about 
those  that  fear  him,  and  delivereth  them.     (Psalms  xxiv.  2-8.) 

17.  Look  unto  the  heavens,  and  see,  and  gaze  on  the  skies  which 
are  higher  than  thou.  If  thou  sin,  what  dost  thou  effect  against 
him?  and  if  thy  transgressions  be  multiplied,  what  canst  thou  do  unto 
him  ?  If  thou  be  righteous,  what  givest  thou  him  ?  or  what  doth  he 
accept  out  of  thy  hand  ?     (Job  xxxv.  5-7.  ) 

18.  Yet  turn  not  aside  from  following  the  Lord,  and  serve  ye  the 
Lord  with  all  thy  heart.     (I.  Samuel  xii.  20.  ) 

19.  When  one  turneth  away  his  ear  so  as  not  to  listen  to  the  law, 
even  his  prayer  becometh  an  abomination.     ( Proverbs  xxviii.  9.) 

20.  For  the  commandment  is  a  lamp,  and  the  law  is  light;  and 
the  way  of  life  are  the  admonitions  of  correction.     (Proverbs  vi.  23.  ) 

21.  Offer  sacrifices  of  righteousness  and  put  your  trust  in  the  Lord. 
(Psalms  iv.  6.  ) 

22.  And  Samuel  said,  "  Hath  the  Lord  as  much  delight  in  burnt- 
offerings  and  in  sacrifices  as  in  obeying  the  voice  of  the  Lord?  Be- 
hold, to  obey  is  better  than  sacrifice,  and  to  attend  more  than  the  fat 
of  the  rams."     (I.  Samuel  xv.  22.  ) 

23.  Sacrifice  and  meat-offering  thou  desirest  not — ears  hast  thou 


OUR    RELIGIOUS    DUTIES.  6f 

hollowed  out  unto  me — burnt-offering  and  sin-offering  thou  demandest 
not.  .   (Psalms  xl.  7.) 

•24.  To  exercise  righteousness  and  justice  is  more  acceptable  to  the 
Lord  than  sacrifice.     (Proverbs  xxi.  3.) 

25.  Hear,  O  my  people,  and  I  will  speak ;  O  Israel,  and  I  will 
testify  against  thee  :  God,  thy  Lord,  am  I.  Not  because  of  thy 
sacrifices  will  I  reprove  thee ;  and  thy  burnt-offerings  are  continually 
before  me.  I  will  not  take  a  bullock  out  of  thy  house,  nor  he-goats 
out  of  thy  folds.  For  mine  are  all  the  beasts  of  the  forest,  the  cattle 
upon  a  thousand  mountains.  I  know  all  the  fowls  of  the  mountains; 
whatever  moveth  on  the  fields  is  with  me.  If  I  were  hungry  I  would 
not  say  it  to  thee  :  for  mine  is  the  world  and  what  filleth  it.  Do  I  eat  the 
flesh  of  fatted  bulls  or  drink  the  blood  of  he-goats  ?  Offer  unto  God 
thanksgiving,  and  pay  unto  the  Most  High  thy  vows;  and  call  on  me 
on  the  day  of  distress,  I  will  deliver  thee ;  and  so  wilt  thou  glorify 
me.     (Psalms  1.  7-15.) 

26.  And  Solomon  now  placed  himself  before  the  altar  of  the  Lord 
in  the  presence  of  all  the  congregation  of  Israel,  and  spread  forth  his 
hands  toward  Heaven;  and  he  said,  O  Lord,  the  God  of  Israel,  there 
is  no  God  like  thee  in  the  heavens  above  or  on  the  earth  beneath, 
thou  who  keepest  the  convenant  and  the  kindness  for  thy  servants 
that  walk  before  thee  with  all  their  heart.  For  in  truth  will  God  then 
dwell  on  the  earth  ?  Behold,  the  heavens  and  the  heavens  of  heavens 
can  not  contain  thee :  how  much  less  then  this  house  which  I  have 
built !  Yet  wilt  thou  turn  unto  the  prayer  of  thy  servant  and  to  his  sup- 
plication, O  Lord,  my  God,  to  listen  unto  the  entreaty  and  unto  the 
prayer  which  thy  servant  prayeth  before  thee  to-day ;  that  thine  eyes  may 
be  open  toward  this  house  night  and  day,  toward  the  place  of  which 
thou  hast  said,  My  name  shall  be  there  ;  that  thou  mayest  listen  unto  the 
prayer  which  thy  servant  shall  pray  at  this  place  :  And  listen  thou  to 
the  supplication  of  thy  servant  and  thy  people,  Israel,  which  they  will 
pray  at  this  place:  O  do  thou  hear  in  heaven,  thy  dwelling-place; 
and  hear  and  forgive.  What  prayer  and  supplication  soever  be  made 
by  any  man  of  all  thy  people  Israel,  when  they  shall  be  conscious, 


68  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

every  man  of  the  plague  of  his  own  heart,  and  he  then  spread 
forth  his  hands  toward  this  house.  Then  do  thou  hear  in  heaven,  the 
place  of  thy  dwelling,  and  forgive,  and  act,  and  give  to  every  man  in 
accordance  with  all  his  ways,  as  thou  mayest  know  his  heart;  for 
thou  thyself  alone  knowest  the  heart  of  all  the  children  of  men ;  in 
order  that  they  may  fear  thee  all  the  days  that  they  live  on  the  face  of 
the  land  which  thou  hast  given  unto  our  fathers.  But  also  to  the 
stranger  who  is  not  of  thy  people  Israel,  but  cometh  out  of  a  far-off 
country  for  the  sake  of  thy  name ;  for  they  will  hear  of  thy  great 
name,  and  of  thy  strong  hand,  and  of  thy  outstretched  arm  ;  when  he 
will  come  and  pray  at  this  house:  Mayest  thou  listen  in  heaven, 
the  place  of  thy  dwelling,  and  do  according  to  all  that  the  stranger 
will  call  on  thee  for;  in  order  that  all  the  nations  of  the  earth  may 
know  thy  name,  to  fear  thee  as  (do)  thy  people  Israel:  and  that  they 
may  understand  that  this  house  which  I  have  built  is  called  by  thy 
name.     (I.  Kings  viii.  22,  23,  27-30,  38-43.) 

27.  O  come,  let  us  sing  unto  the  Lord:  let  us  shout  joyfully  to 
the  rock  of  our  salvation.  Let  us  come  before  his  presence  with 
thanksgiving,  and  shout  joyfully  unto  him  with  psalms.  For  a  great 
God  is  the  Lord,  and  a  great  King  above  all  Gods;  in  whose  hand 
are  the  deep  places  of  the  earth ;  and  whose  are  the  heights  of  the 
mountains;  whose  is  the  sea  and  who  hath  made  it;  and  whose  hands 
have  formed  the  dry  land,  O  come  and  let  us  prostrate  ourselves 
and  bow  down  :  let  us  kneel  before  the  Lord  our  Maker.  For  he  is 
our  God,  and  we  are  the  people  of  his  pasture  and  the  flock  of  his 
hand:  Yea,  this  day  if  ye  will  hearken  unto  his  voice.  (Psalms 
xcv.  1-7.) 

28.  Take  with  you  words  and  return  to  the  Lord;  say  unto  him, 
"Pardon  all  (our)  iniquity  and  accept  (our  return  to)  good  :  and  let 
us  repay  the  steers  (of  sacrifice)  with  (the  prayer  of)  our  lips."  (Ho- 
sea  xiv.  3. ) 

29.  In  assemblies  bless  ye  God  (praise)  the  Lord,  ye  sprung  from 
Israel's  fountain.      (Psalms  lxviii.  27.) 


OUR    RELIGIOUS    DUTIES.  69 

VIII.— LET  THE  OBSERVANCE  OF  THE  SABBATHS  AND 
HOLIDAYS  AND  YOUR  ATTENDANCE  AT  THE  PLACE 
AND  PARTAKING  IN  ALL  MATTERS  OF  WORSHIP  BE 
A  FIXED  AND  EARNEST  DUTY  ALL  THROUGH  LIFE. 

The  great  blessings  which  God  has  given  us  in  our  Sabbaths  and 
holidays  must  ever  be  remembered,  and  their  observance  will  ever  be 
a  joy  and  benefit  to  us.  Men  may  so  fix  their  attention  and  their  af- 
fections on  the  pleasures  and  pursuits  of  the  world  as  to  forget  every 
higher  and  nobler  purpose,  to  forget  that  at  any  moment  death  may 
come,  and  all  the  work,  worry  and  unrest  with  which  we  burden  our- 
selves will  prove  to  be  vain.  To  teach  this  and  to  prevent  our  losing 
ourselves  in  worldliness  our  Sabbaths  and  holidays  are  given  to  us. 
By  ceasing  from  our  labors  and  observing  them,  especially  if  it  be  at  some 
cost  and  sacrifice,  we  prove  thereby  that  we  are  free,  that  we  regard 
the  claims  of  our  spiritual  natures  over  our  merely  bodily  wants,  and 
that  the  cultivation  of  our  religious  and  moral  nature  is  the  truest  and 
best,  as  it  is  the  highest  aim  of  life.  Each  one  of  these  sacred  days 
has  many  special  lessons  to  teach,  which,  if  we  mind  them,  will  surely 
better  us— but  in  general  they  all  give  us  a  time  for  reflection  and  de- 
votion, make  us  forget  our  cares  and  give  us  new  trust  and  strength 
to  bear  them  by  our  communion  with  God. 

They  give  us  rest  in  mind  and  body,  and  afford  the  laboring  ani- 
mals also  that  rest  which  all  creatures  must  have,  and  which  makes 
them  able  to  do  better  work  then  and  after,  which  gives  them  that 
vitality  which  lengthens  life.  But  most  of  all  these  Sabbaths  and 
holidays  are  of  untold  good  in  that  they  afford  the  time  and  the  means 
for  bringing  families  together,  for  binding  firmer  the  domestic  ties  of 
love  which  are  the  one  great  source  of  pure  and  useful  and  happy 
lives. 


fO  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

"  0  day  of  rest  !  how  beautiful,  how  fair, 
How  welcome  to  the  weary  and  the  old  ! 
Day  of  the  Lord,  and  truce  to  earthly  care, 

Day  of  the  Lord,  as  all  our  days  should  be." — Longfellow. 

"Take  rest,  a  field  that  has  rested  gives  a  bountiful  crop." — Ovid 

"  Straining  breaks  the  bow,  and  relaxation  relieves  the  mind." — Syrus. 


Prove  the  truth  of  the  above  by  the  following  or  other  stories  of 
the  Bible:  Examples:  II.  Samuel  vi.  ;  IX.  Chronicles  vii. ;  Ne- 
hemiah  vhi.  ;  II.  Chronicles  xxxv. 


1.  And  the  Lord  spoke  unto  Moses,  saying,  Speak  unto  the 
children  of  Israel  and  say  unto  them,  The  feasts  of  the  Lord,  which 
ye  shall  proclaim  to  be  holy  convocation — these  are  my  feasts.  Six 
days  may  work  be  done ;  but  on  the  seventh  day  is  the  Sabbath  of 
rest,  a  holy  convocation,  no  kind  of  work  shall  ye  do  thereon,  it  is 
the  Sabbath  (holy)  unto  the  Lord  in  all  your  dwellings.  (Leviticus 
xxiii.  1-3.) 

2.  And  the  children  of  Israel  shall  keep  the  Sabbath,  to  observe 
the  Sabbath  throughout  their  generations,  for  a  perpetual  covenant. 
Between  me  and  the  children  of  Israel  it  shall  be  a  sign  forever  ;  for 
in  six  days  the  Lord  made  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  and  on  the 
seventh  day  he  rested,  and  was  refreshed.     (Exodus  xxxi.  16,  17.) 

3.  Remember  the  Sabbath  day  to  keep  it  holy.  Six  days  shalt 
thou  labor  and  do  all  thy  work.  But  the  seventh  day  is  the  Sabbath 
in  honor  of  the  Lord  thy  God :  on  it  thou  shalt  not  do  any  work, 
neither  thou,  nor  thy  son,  nor  thy  daughter,  thy  man-servant,  nor 
thy  maid  servant,  nor  thy  cattle,  nor  thy  stranger  that  is  within  thy 
gates.  For  in  six  days  the  Lord  made  the  heavens  and  the  earth, 
the  sea,  and  all  that  is  in  them,  and  rested  on  the  seventh  day;  there- 
fore the  Lord  blessed  the  seventh  day  and  hallowed  it.  (Exodus  xx. 
8-11.) 


OUR    RELIGIOUS    DUTIES.  71 

4.  On  the  fourteenth  day  of  the  first  month*  toward  evening  is  the 
Passover-lamb  to  be  offered  unto  the  Lord.  And  on  the  fifteenth 
day  of  the  same  month  is  the  feast  of  unleavened  bread  unto  the 
Lord;  seven  days  must  ye  eat  unleavened  bread.     (Leviticus  xxiii. 

5.  6-) 

5.  And  on  the  first  day  there  shall  be  a  holy  convocation,  and  on 

the  seventh  day  there  shall  be  a  holy  convocation  to  you;  no  manner 
of  work  shall  be  done  on  them,  save  what  is  eaten  by  every  man, 
that  only  may  be  prepared  by  you.  And  ye  shall  observe  the  un- 
leavened bread;  for  on  this  self-same  day  have  I  brought  your  armies 
out  of  the  land  of  Egypt;  therefore  shall  ye  observe  this  day  in  your 
generations  as  an  ordinance  forever.     (Exodus  xii.  16,  17.) 

6.  Seven  weeks  shak  thou  number  unto  thyself:  from  the  time 
thou  beginnest  to  put  the  sickle  to  the  eorn,  shs.lt  thou  begin  to  num- 
ber seven  weeks.  And  thou  shalt  keep  the  feast  of  weeks  unto  the 
Lord  thy  God  with  a  tribute  of  a  free  will  offering  of  thy  hand,  which 
thou  shalt  give,  according  as  the  Lord  thy  God  shall  have  blessed 
thee.  And  thou  shalt  rejoice  before  the  Lord  thy  God,  thou,  and  thy 
son,  and  thy  daughter,  and  thy  man-servant,  and  thy  maid-servant, 
and  the  Levite  that  is  within  thy  gates,  and  the  stranger,  and  the 
fatherless,  and  the  widow  that  are  in  the  midst  of  thee,  in  the  place 
which  the  Lord  thy  God  will  choose  to  let  his  name  dwell  there,  and 
thou  shalt  remember  that  thou  hast  been  a  bondman  in  Egypt ;  and 
thou  shalt  observe  and  do  these  statutes.     (Deuteronomy  xvi.  9-12.) 

7.  And  in  the  seventh  month,  on  the  first  day  of  the  month,  sha'l 
ye  have  a  holy  convocation;  no  servile  work  shall  ye  do;  a  day  of 
blowing  of  the  cornet  shall  it  be  unto  you.     (Numbers  xxix.  1.  ) 

8.  And  it  shall  be  unto  you  a  statute  forever  :  in  the  seventh 
month,  on  the  tenth  of  the  month,  shall  ye  afflict  yourselves,  and  no 
work  shall  ye  do,  whether  it  be  one  of  your  own  country  or  the 
stranger  that  sojourneth  among  you.     For  on   that   day   shall    (the 


*The  names  of  the  months  according  to  the  Hebrew  calendar  are :  Nis- 
san, Iyar,  Sivan,  Tamuz,  Ab.  Ellul,  Tishri,  Heshvan,  Kislev,  Tebeth, 
Shebat,  Adar,  and  in  leap-year  Adar  Sheni  or  Second  Adar. 


72  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

high-priest)  make  an  atonement  for  you  to  cleanse  you:  from  all 
your  sins  before  the  Lord  shall  ye  be  clean.     (Leviticus  xvi.  29,  30.  ) 

9.  No  manner  of  work  shall  ye  do ;  it  shall  be  a  statute  forever 
throughout  your  generations,  in  all  your  dwellings  a  Sabbath  of  rest 
it  shall  be  unto  you,  and  ye  shall  afflict  yourselves :  on  the  ninth  day 
of  the  month  at  evening  (shall  ye  begin),  from  evening  unto  evening 
shall  ye  celebrate  your  Sabbath.     (Leviticus  xxiii.  31,  32.) 

10.  The  feast  of  tabernacles  shalt  thou  hold  for  thyself  seven  days, 
when  thou  hast  gathered  in  the  produce  of  thy  threshing  floor  and  of 
thy  wine  press.  And  thou  shalt  rejoice  on  thy  feast,  thou,  and  thy 
son,  and  thy  daughter,  and  thy  man-servant,  and  thy  maid-servant 
and  the  Levite,  and  the  stranger,  and  the  fatherless  and  the  widow 
that  are  within  thy  gates.  Seven  days  shalt  thou  keep  a  solemn  feast 
unto  the  Lord  thy  God  in  the  place  which  the  Lord  will  choose ;  be- 
cause the  Lord  thy  God  will  bless  thee  in  all  thy  product,  and  in  all 
the  work  of  thy  hands,  and  thou  shalt  only  rejoice.  (Deuteronomy 
xvi.  13-15) 

1 1.  But  on  the  fifteenth  day  of  the  seventh  month,  when  ye  have 
gathered  in  the  fruit  of  the  land,  shall  ye  keep  the  feast  of  the  Lord 
seven  days;  on  the  first  day  shall  be  a  rest,  and  on  the  eighth  day 
shall  be  a  rest.  And  ye  shall  take  unto  yourselves  en  the  first  day  the 
fruit  of  the  tree  hadar,  branches  of  palm  trees  and  the  boughs  of  the 
myrtle  tree,  and  willows  of  the  brook;  and  ye  shall  rejoice  before  the 
Lord  thy  God  seven  days.  And  ye  shall  keep  it  as  a  feast  unto  the 
Lord  seven  days  in  the  year  :  it  shall  be  a  statute  forever  throughout 
your  generations;  in  the  seventh  month  shall  ye  celebrate  it.  In 
booths  shall  ye  dwell  seven  days ;  ail  that  are  Israelites  born  shall 
dwell  in  booths.  In  order  that  your  generations  may  know,  that  I 
caused  the  children  of  Israel  to  dwell  in  booths,  when  I  brought  them 
forth  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt :  I  am  the  Lord  thy  God.  And  Moses 
declared  the  feasts  of  the  Lord  unto  the  children  of  Israel.  (Leviti- 
cus xxiii.  39-44. ) 

12.  And  they  beautified  the  exterior  of  the  temple  with  golden 
crowns  and  with  shields,  and  they  built  the  gate,  and  they  put  up  the 


OUR    RELIGIOUS    DUTIES.  73 

doors.  And  all  the  people  rejoiced  exceedingly,  for  God  had  ended 
their  shame  in  the  midst  of  the  people.  And  Jehudah  and  his  brothers 
and  all  the  house  of  Israel  took  upon  themselves  to  celebrate  (Chan- 
uka)  the  days  of  the  dedication  of  the  temple  with  rejoicing  and 
thanksgiving  in  its  due  seasons,  for  eight  days  from  the  fifteenth  day 
of  the  month  of  Kislev,  from  year  to  year.     (Maccabee  iv. ) 

13.  The  Jews  confirmed  it  as  a  duty,  and  took  upon  themselves, 
and  upon  their  seed,  and  upon  all  such  as  join  themselves  unto  them, 
so  that  no  one  should  fail  therein  that  they  would  celebrate  these  two 
days  according  to  their  prescription  and  at  their  appointed  time  in 
each  and  every  year.  And  these  days  are  remembered  and  cele- 
brated throughout  each  and  every  generation,  eveiy  family,  every 
province  and  every  city;  and  these  days  of  Purim  will  not  pass  away 
from  the  midst  of  the  Jews,  nor  will  their  memorial  cease  from  their 
seed.  To  confirm  these  days  of  Purim  in  their  times,  just  as  Morde- 
cai  the  Jew  and  Esther  the  Queen  had  enjoined  on  them,  and  as 
they  had  confirmed  for  themselves  and  for  their  seed  the  matters  of 
the  fasting  and  their  prayers.     (Esther  ix.  27,  28,  31.) 

14.  Therefore  do  the  Jews  make  the  fourteenth  day  of  the  month 
of  Adar  as  one  of  joy  and  entertainment  and  a  feast-day  and  of  send- 
ing gifts  one  to  another.     (Esther  ix.  9.  ) 


E.— MAN  AND  HIS  MISSION. 

L— MAN  IS  THE  NOBLEST  OF  GOD'S  WORKS. 

Great  are  the  wonders  with  which  God  has  surrounded  us,  every- 
where they  unroll  themselves  before  us  in  awe-inspiring  splendor. 
There  is  no  mineral,  no  plant,  no  fish  in  the  water,  no  animal  on 
earth,  no  bird  nor  insect  in  the  air,  in  which  God's  power,  wisdom 
and  loving  kindness  are  not  displayed.  But  the  greatest  wonder  of  all 
creation  is  man.  With  us  and  in  us  creation  has  reached  its  loftiest 
point.  Man  through  his  reason,  which  raises  him  above  the  lower 
animals,  through  his  faculty  to  distinguish  the  right  from  the  wrong, 
and  through  his  power  to  realize  the  lofty  mission  for  which  all  these 
great  gifts  have  been  bestowed  upon  him,  has  become  godlike. 


"  Let  each  man  think  himself  an  art  of  God, 
His  mind  a  thought,  his  life  a  breath  of  God." — Baily. 

"  An  honest  man  is  the  noblest  work  of  God." — Pope. 

"  What  a  piece  of  work  is  man,  how  noble  in  reason !  how  infinite  in 
faculty  !  in  form  and  moving  how  admirable  !  in  action  how  like  an  angel ! 
in  apprehension  how  like  a  God !" — Shakespeare. 

"  Every  one  is  in  a  small  way  the  image  of  God." — Lucretius. 


i.  And  God  said,  Let  us  make  man  in  our  image,  after  our 
likeness ;  and  they  shall  have  dominion  over  the  fish  of  the  sea,  and 
over  the  fowl  of  the  heaven,  and  over  the  cattle,  and  over  all  the 
earth,  and  over  every  creeping  thing  that  creepeth  upon  the  earth. 
And  God  created  man  in  his  image,  in  the  image  of  God  created  he 
him  :  male  and  female  created  he  them.  And  God  blessed  them,  and 
God  said  unto   them,     Be  fruitful   and  multiply,   fill  the  earth    ancj 


MAN    AND    HIS    MISSION.  75 

subdue  it;  and  have  dominion  over  the  fish  of  the  sea  and  over  the 
fowl  of  the  heaven,  and  over  every  living  thing  that  moveth  upon 
the  earth.     (Genesis  i,  26-28.) 

2.  Blessed  are  ye  of  the  Lord,  who  made  heaven  and  earth. 
The  heavens  are  the  heavens  of  the  Lord ;  but  the  earth  has  he  given 
to  the  children  of  men.     (Psalms  cxv.  15,  16.) 

3.  When  I  behold  thy  heavens,  the  work  of  thy  fingers,  the  moon 
and  the  stars  which  thou  hast  established : — What  is  mortal,  that  thou 
rememberest  him  ?  and  the  son  of  man  that  thou  thinkest  of  him  ? 
Yet  thou  hast  made  him  but  a  little  less  than  angels,  and  hast  crowned 
him  with  honor  and  glory.  Thou  hast  given  him  dominion  over  the 
works  of  thy  hands;  everything  hast  thou  placed  beneath  his  feet ; 
flocks  and  herds  altogether,  and  also  the  beasts  of  the  field;  the  birds 
of  heaven  and  the  fishes  of  the  sea,  whatsoever  paFseth  through  the 
paths  of  the  sea.  O  Eternal  One  our  Lord !  how  excellent  is  thy 
name  on  all  the  earth.     (Psalms  viii.  4--10.) 

4.  Lord,  what  is  man,  that -thou  takest  cognizance  of  him!  the 
son  of  a  mortal  that  thou  regardest  him !     (Psalms  cxliv.  3. ) 

5.  Lo  !  this  only  did  I  find,  that  God  hath  made  man  upright. 
(Ecclesiastes  vii.  29.) 

6.  All  my  bones  will  say,  "Lord!  who  is  like  unto  thee?'' 
(Psalms  xxxv.  10.) 

7.  I  will  thank  thee,  therefore,  that  I  am  (so)  fearfully  (and) 
wonderfully  made:  wonderful  are  thy  works;  and  that  my  soul 
knoweth  right  well.     (Psalms  cxxxix.  14.) 

8.  And  the  Lord  God  formed  man  of  dust  from  the  ground,  and 
breathed  into  his  nostrils  the  breath  of  life,  and  the  man  became  a 
living  being.     (Genesis  ii.  7.) 

9.  The  spirit  of  God  hath  made  me,  and  the  breath  of  the  Al- 
mighty giveth  me  life.     (Job  xxxiii.  4. ) 

10.  The  Lord  who  stretcheth  forth  the  heavens,  and  layeth  the 
foundation  of  the  earth,  and  formeth  the  spirit  of  man  within  him. 
(Zechariah  xii.  1.) 


76  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

ii.  And  thy  good  spirit  thou  gavest  to  make  him  intelligent. 
(Nehemiah  ix.  20. ) 

12.  Who  hath  given  a  mouth  to  man?  or  who  maketh  him  dumb 
or  deaf,  or  seeing  or  blind?  is  it  not  I  the  Lord?     (Exodus  iv.    11.) 

13.  The  spirit  of  the  Lord  spoke  through  me  and  his  word  was 
upon  my  tongue.     (II.  Samuel  xxiii.  2.) 

II.— MAN  HAS  FREE  WILL  AND  CONSCIENCE. 

By  giving  a  man  freedom  and  liberty  to  act  according  to  the  best 
of  his  knowledge,  we  show  him  thereby  a  special  distinction  and 
favor. 

However,  we  can  only  safely  grant  such  permission  to  the  best  and 
most  learned.  In  this  we  merely  follow  the  loving  example  which 
our  Heavenly  Father  has  set  us.  The  highest  and  best  with  which 
he  has  crowned  creation  is  man,  and  to  show  his  loving  kindness  for 
man,  he  has  given  him  a  free  will  and  the  knowledge  how  to  act 
that  we  may  find  favor  in  the  eyes  of  man  and  before  our  God.  This 
sublime  gift  would  have  been  sufficient  to  thank  our  Father  night  and 
day,  but  God  gave  us  still  more.  That  by  which  we  know  whether 
we  do  not  abuse  this  great  gift,  and  this  the  greatest  of  all  benefits 
with  which  God  has  blest  us  is  "  Conscience."  It  is  the  still  small 
voice  within  us  that  is  ever  awake,  is  ever  a  witness  to  all  our  deeds. 
It  applauds  us  when  our  deeds  are  good,  true  and  beautiful,  but  it 
rebukes  in  a  loud  and  terrible  voice  when  we  do  what  is  displeasing 
to  God  and  man.  

"  A  good  conscience  is  to  the  soul  what  health  is  to  the  body ;  it  preserves 
a  constant  ease  and  serenity  within  us,  and  more  than  countervails  all  the 
calamities  and  afflictions  which  can  possibly  befall  us." — Addison. 
"  Thou  mayect  conceal  thy  sin  by  cunning  art, 
But  conscience  sits  U  witness  in  the  heart, 
Which  will  disturb  thy  peace,  thy  rest  undo, 
For  that  is  witness,  judge  and  prison,  too.'* 


MAN    AND    HIS    MISSION.  77 

i.  And  the  Lord  God  said,  Behold,  the  man  is  become  as  one 
of  us,  to  know  good  and  evil.     (Genesis  iii.  22.) 

2.  See,  I  have  set  before  thee  this  day  life  and  the  good,  death 
and  the  evil.      (Deuteronomy  xxx.  15.) 

3.  I  call  heaven  and  earth  as  witnesses  against  you  this  day  that 
I  have  set  before  you  life  and  death,  the  blessing  and  the  curse: 
therefore  choose  thou  life  in  order  that  thou  mayest  live,  both  thou 
and  thy  seed.     (Deuteronomy  xxx.  19.) 

4.  If  thou  dost  well  shalt  thou  not  be  accepted  ?  and  if  thou  dost 
not  well,  sin  lieth  at  the  door ;  and  unto  thee  is  its  desire,  but  thou 
canst  rule  over  it.     (Genesis  iv.  7.) 

5.  Seek  for  the  good,  and  not  the  evil,  in  order  that  ye  may  live; 
and  so  will  the  Lord,  the  God  of  hosts,  be  with  you,  as  ye  have  said. 
Hate  the  evil,  and  love  the  good,  and  establish  justice  firmly  in  the 
gate.     (Amos  v.  14,  15.) 

6.  One  that  is  slow  to  anger  is  better  than  a  hero,  and  he  that 
^•uleth  his  spirit,  than  the  conqueror  of  a  city.     (Proverbs  xvi.  32.) 

7.  Like  a  city  that  is  broken  in  and  is  without  walls,  so  is  the 
man  that  hath  no  control  over  his  spirit.      (Proverbs  xxv.   28.) 

8.  Woe  unto  those  that  say  of  the  evil  it  is  good,  and  of  the  good 
it  is  evil;  that  put  darkness  for  light,  and  light  for  darkness;  that  put 
bitter  for  sweet  and  sweet  for  bitter  !     (Isaiah  v.  20.) 

9.  Be  ye  not  like  the  horse,  or  like  the  mule,  who  hath  no  under- 
standing, who  must  be  held  in  with  bit  and  bridle,  his  ornament,  lest 
he  come  near  unto  thee.     (Psalms  xxxii.  9.) 

10.  Man,  though  in  splendor,  who  understandeth  not,  is  like  the 
beasts  that  perish.      (Psalms  xlix.  21. ) 

1 1.  Happy  is  the  man  that  always  dreadeth  (to  do  evil)  ;  but  he 
that  hardeneth  his  heart  vvll  fall  into  unhappiness.  (Proverbs 
xxviii.   14.) 

12.  The  way  of  the  wicked  is  like  darkness;  they  know  not 
against  whom  they  stumble.     ( Proverbs  i v.  19.) 

13.  O  that  thou  hadst  but  listened  to   my   commandments  !  then 


78  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

would  have  been  as  a  river  thy  peace  and  thy  prosperity  as  the  waves 
of  the  sea.      (Isaiah  xlviii.  18.) 

14.  Light  is  sown  for  the  righteous,  and  joy  for  the  upright  in 
heart.     (Psalms  xcvii.  n.) 

15.  Say  ye  to  the  righteous  that  he  hath  done  well :  for  the  fruit 
of  their  doings  shall  they  eat.  Woe  unto  the  wicked  that  doeth  evil : 
for. the  recompense  of  his  hands  shall  be  bestowed  on  him.  (Isaiah 
iii.  to,  11.) 

16.  The  righteousness  of  the  perfect  maketh  even  his  way;  but  by 
his  own  wickedness  will  the  wicked  fall.     (Proverbs  xi.  5.) 

17.  He  that  walketh  uprightly,  ever  walketh  securely:  but  he 
that  perverteth  his  ways  will  be  punished.     (Proverbs  x.  9. ) 

18.  Perverse  is  the  way  of  the  man  that  is  estranged  (from  good- 
ness) ;  but  as  for  the  pure  his  work  is  upright.      (Proverbs,  xxi.  8.) 

19.  If  I  be  wicked,  woe  unto  me.     (Job  x.  15.) 

20.  But  the  wicked  are  like  the  troubled  sea:  for  it  can  never  fye 
at  rest,  but  the  waters  cast  up  mire  and  dirt.  There  is  no  peace, 
saith  my  God,  to  the  wicked.     (Isaiah  lvii.  20,  21.) 

21.  There  is  no  peace,  saith  the  Lord,  unto  the  wicked.  •  (Isaiah 
xlviii.  22. ) 

22.  In  my  heart  have  I  treasured  up  thy  saying,  in  order  that  I 
may  not  sin  against  thee.     (Psalms  cxix.  11.) 

23.  In  everlasting  remembrance  shall  the  righteous  be  held.  Of 
an  evil  report  shall  he  not  be  afraid ;  his  heart  is  firm,  trusting  in  the 
Lord.     (Psalms  cxii.  6,  7.) 

24.  Abundant  peace  have  they  who  love  thy  law  :  and  there  is 
nothing  that  causeth  them  to  stumble.     (Psalms  cxix.  165.) 

III.— THE  SOUL  OF  MAN  IS  IMMORTAL. 

Men  live  the  number  of  years  allotted  to  them  and  then  they  die. 
But  this  is  not  the  end.  Our  souls  live  on.  This  truth  God  has  re- 
vealed to  us  by  his  voice  within  us,  by  the  works  of  nature  about  us, 


MAN    AND    HIS    MISSION.  79 

by  the  higher  hopes  and  aspirations  which  he  has  implanted  in  our 
hearts  and  to  realize  which  fully  this  life  is  too  short. 


"  Oh !  the  souls  of  those  that  die 
Are  but  sunbeams  lifted  higher."—  Longfellow. 

"  What'er  of  earth  is  formed  to  earth  returns, 
T:ie  soul  of  man  alone,  that  particle  divine, 
Escapes  the  wreck  of  worlds  when  all  things  fail !" 

— Somerville. 

"  God  being  all- wise  would  not  destroy  the  intellect  he  created,  being 
all-good  he  would  not  disappoint  the  highest  hope  with  which  he  impresses 
us ;  and  being  all -just  he  could  not  have  commanded  man  only  to  subordi- 
nate his  carnal  inclinations  to  his  spiritual  welfare,  if  the  soul  were  not  des- 
tined to  everlasting  life." — /.  M.  Wise. 


i.  When  the  dust  will  return  to  the  earth  as  it  was,  and  the  spirit 
will  return  unto  God  who  gave  it.     (Ecclesiates  xii.  7.) 

2.  Yet  will  the  soul  of  my  Lord  be  bound  in  the  bond  of  life 
with  the  Lord  thy  God.     (I.  Samuel  xxv.  29.) 

3.  But  God  will  redeem  my  soul  from  the  power  of  the  nether 
world;  for  he  will  take  me  away.     Selah.     (Psalms  xlix.  16.) 

4.  Therefore  is  rejoiced  my  heart,  and  my  spirit  is  glad :  also  my 
flesh  shall  rest  in  safety.  For  thou  wilt  not  abandon  my  soul  to  the 
grave :  thou  wilt  not  suffer  thy  pious  (servant)  to  see  corruption. 
Thou  wilt  let  me  know  the  path  of  life ;  fulness  of  joy  is  in  thy 
presence:  pleasures  are  at  thy  right  hand  for  evermore.  (Psalms 
xvi.  9-1 1. ) 

.5  Return,  O  my  soul,  unto  thy  rest;  for  the  Lord  hath  dealt 
bountifully  with  thee.  For  thou  hast  delivered  my  soul  from  death, 
mine  eyes  from  tears,  my  feet  from  falling.  I  will  walk  before  the 
Lord  in  the  lands  of  life.     (Psalms  cxvi.  7-9. ) 

6.  When  a  wicked  man  dieth  (his)  hope  vanisheth;  and  the  ex- 
pectation of  (his)  children  is  lost.     (Proverbs  xi.  7.) 

7.  For  surely  there  is  a  future,  and  thy  hope  will  not  be  cut  off. 
(Proverbs  xxiii.  18.) 


80  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

IV.— IT  IS  MAN'S  MISSION  TO  TRY  AND   PERFECT   HIS 
MORAL,  MENTAL  AND  PHYSICAL  NATURES. 

By  our  moral,  mental  and  physical  natures,  we  are  distinguished 
from  all  other  creatures.  These  qualities  when  they  reach  perfection 
in  man  make  him  godlike,  lead  him  to  happiness  and  to  the  realiza- 
tion of  that  divine  mission  for  which  he  has  been  put  on  earth.  To 
be  gifted  with  the  highest  powers  in  creation  and  then  basely  abuse 
them  is  degrading,  is  lowering  ourselves  to  the  level  of  the  brutes. 

It  is  our  sacred  duty,  therefore,  to  labor  and  strive  in  all  our  en- 
terprises to  reach  the  ideal  of  moral,  mental  and  physical  perfection, 
for  our  own  good  as  well  as  for  the  good  of  all  mankind. 

"  Every  man  is  bound  to  consecrate  his  every  faculty  to  its  fulfillment." — 
Mazzini. 

"Man  was  born  for  two  things—  thinking  and  acting." — Cicero. 

1 '  The  consciousness  of  having  developed  our  moral  and  intellectual  capac- 
ities according  to  the  will  of  God,  and  elevated  ourselves  to  a  higher  order 
of  spirits,  is  of  itself  a  gracious  reward,  when  egotism  and  carnal  passions 
have  vanished.  And  the  consciousness  of  being  one  of  the  lower  order  of 
spirits  by  our  own  errors  and  sins  is  a  mortifying  punishment." — Isaac  M. 
Wise.  

i.  The  path  of  life  (leadeth)  upward  for  the  intelligent,  in  order 
that  he  may  avoid  the  nether  world  beneath.     (Proverbs  xv.  24.) 

2.  The  highway  of  the  upright  is  to  depart  from  evil;  he  pre- 
servethhis  soul  that  watcheth  his  way.     (Proverbs  xvi.  17.) 

3.  But  the  path  of  the  righteous  is  as  the  early  morning  light  that 
shineth  more  and  more  brightly  until  the  height  of  noon-day.  (Prov- 
erbs iv.  18.) 

4  On  the  path  of  righteousness  there  is  life ;  and  on  her  pathway 
there  is  immortality.      (Proverbs  xii.  28  ) 

5  Hear  counsel  and  accept  correction,  in  order  that  thou  mayest 
be  wise  in  thy  latter  end.      (Proverbs  xix.  20. ) 


MAN    AND    HIS    MISSION.  8l 

6.  Happy  is  the  man  that  hath  round  wisdom,  and  the  man  that 
acquireth  understanding.  Foi  the  obtaining  of  her  is  better  than  the 
obtaining  of  silver,  and  better  than  fine  gold  is  her  product.  She  is 
more  precious  than  pearls ;  and  all  the  things  thou  valuest  are  not 
equal  unto  her.  Length  of  days  is  in  her  right  hand ;  in  her  left  are 
riches  and  honor.  Her  ways  are  ways  of  pleasantness  and  all  her 
paths  are  peace.  A  tree  of  life  is  she  to  those  that  lay  hold  on  her ; 
and  every  one  that  firmly  graspeth  her  will  be  made  happy.  (Prov- 
erbs iii.  13-18.) 

7.  Then  wilt  thou  understand  righteousness,  and  justice,  and 
equity;  yea,  every  track  of  goodness.  For  wisdom  will  enter  thy 
heart,  and  knowledge  will  be  pleasant  unto  thy  soul.  (Proverbs 
ii.  9,  10.) 

8  He  that  reflecteth  on  a  matter  wisely  will  find  happiness;  and 
whoso  trusteth  in  the  Ford  —  happiness  attend  him !  (Proverbs 
xvi.  20.) 

9.  The  desire  ot  the  righteous  is  only  good ;  but  the  hope  of  the 
wicked  is  the  wrath  (of  God).     (Proverbs  xi.  23.) 

10.  He  that  diligently  searcheth  after  good  seeketh  favor  ;  but  if 
one  inquire  after  evil,  it  will  come  unto  him.     (Proverbs  xi.  27.) 

11.  Of  all  perfection  have  I  seen  the  end;  (but)  thy  command- 
ment is  exceedingly  extended.  O  how  do  I  love  thy  law  S  all  the 
day  is  it  my  meditation.      (Psalms  cxix.  96,  97.) 

12.  From  every  evil  path  have  I  withholden  my  feet,  in  order 
that  I  might  observe  thy  word.  From  thy  ordinance  have  I  not  de- 
parted ;  for  thou  hast  instructed  me.  How  much  sweeter  are  to  my 
palate  thy  sayings  than  honey  to  my  mouth.  Through  thy  precepts 
shall  I  obtain  understanding ;  therefore  do  I  hate  every  path  of  false- 
hood. A  lamp  unto  my  feet  is  thy  word  and  a  light  unto  my  path. 
(Psalms  cxix.  101-105.) 


82  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

V.— IT  IS  THE  DUTY  OF  EVERY  ONE  OF  US  TO  SO  ACT 
THAT  HIS  ACTIONS  SHALL  SERVE  AS  A  MODEL  TO 
OTHERS. 

In  all  our  actions  and  undertakings  one  question  ought  ever  be  be- 
fore us,  viz  :  Would  I  approve  this  act  or  undertaking  if  others  were 
to  engage  upon  it,  or  do  it  to  me  or  to  those  near  and  dear  to  me  ? 
Much  pain,  much  sorrow,  many  a  sleepless,  painful  night  would  not 
have  been  endured  had  we  but  put  this  question  to  ourselves  when  we 
were  about  to  do  something  that  was  not  for  our  benefit  nor  for  that  of 
our  fellow-men.  Most  moral  teaching  is  done  by  the  example  which 
we  have  before  us.  As  our  parents  and  superiors  act,  we  are  apt  to 
act,  and  as  we  act  those  whom  we  serve  as  an  example  will  act.  If 
our  example  is  good  our  reward  is  double ;  we  benefit  ourselves  and 
a  large  number  of  others  besides.  If  our  example  is  bad  our  guilt  is 
great,  for  the  seeds  of  corruption  which  we  thus  scatter  grow  and 
grow  till  they  bring  endless  pain  and  grief  and  unpardonable  sin. 

i.  Now,  therefore,  if  ye  will  obey  my  voice  indeed  and  keep  my 
covenant,  then  ye  shall  be  a  peculiar  treasure  unto  me  above  all  peo- 
ple, for  all  the  earth  is  mine.  And  ye  shall  be  unto  me  a  kingdom 
of  priests  and  a  holy  nation.  These  are  the  words  which  thou  shalt 
speak  unto  the  children  of  Israel.     (Exodus  xix.  5,  6.) 

2.  Ye  shall  be  named  the  priests  of  the  Lord,  men  shall  call  you 
the  ministers  of  our  God.     (Isaiah  lxi.  6.) 

3.  Remember  these,  O  Jacob  and  Israel ;  for  thou  art  my  serv- 
ants; O  Israel,  thou  shalt  not  be  forgotten  of  me.     (Isaiah  xliv.  21.) 

4.  Behold  my  servant  whom  I  uphold,  mine  elect,  in  whom  my 
soul  delighteth,  I  have  put  my  spirit  upon  him,  he  shall  bring  forth 
judgment  to  the  Gentiles.     (Isaiah  xlii.  1.) 

5.  This  people  have  I  formed  for  myself;  they  shall  show  forth  my 
praise.     (Isaiah  xliii.  21.) 


MAN    AND    HIS    MISSION.  83 

6.  In  Judah  God  is  known;  his  name  is  great  in  Israel.  (Psalms 
lxxvi.  2.) 

7.  Speak  to  all  the  congregation  of  the  children  of  Israel,  and 
say  unto  them  :  Ye  shall  be  holy,  for  I,  the  Lord  your  God,  am 
holy.     (Leviticus  xix.  2.) 

8.  Holy  men  shall  ye  be  unto  me      (Exodus  xxii.  30.) 

9.  Ye  shall  be  holy  unto  me,  for  I,  the  Lord,  am  holy,  and  have 
separated  you  from  other  people  that  ye  should  be  mine.  (Leviticus 
xx.  26.) 

10.  And  they  shall  call  them  the  holy  people,  the  redeemed  of 
the  Lord.     (Isaiah  xlii.  12.) 

11.  A  holy  people  art  thou  unto  the  Lord  thy  God,  and  the  Lord 
hath  chosen  thee  to  be  a  peculiar  people  unto  himself,  above  all 
the  nations  that  are  upon  the  earth.     (Deuteronomy  xiv.  2. ) 

12.  The  Lord  did  not  set  his  love  upon  you  nor  choose  you  be- 
cause you  were  more  in  number  than  any  people,  for  ye  were  the 
fewest  of  all  people.  But  because  the  Lord  loved  you  and  because 
he  would  keep  the  oath  which  he  had  sworn  unto  your  fathers- 
Deuteronomy  vii.  6-8. ) 

13.  You  only  have  I  known  of  all  the  families  of  the  earth. 
(Amos  iii.  2.) 

14.  Keep,  therefore,  (my  statutes)  and  do  them,  for  this  is  your 
wisdom  and  your  understanding  in  the  sight  of  the  nations,  which 
shall  hear  all  these  statutes  and  say :  Surely  this  great  nation  is  a  wise 
and  understanding  people.  And  what  nation  is  there  so  great  that 
have"  statutes  and  judgments  so  righteous  as  all  this  law  which  I  set 
before  you  this  day  ?     (Deuteronomy  iv.  6-8. ) 

15.  The  knowledge  of  the  holy  is  understanding.  (Proverbs 
ix.    10.) 

VI.— IT  IS  OUR  SACRED  DUTY  TO  PRESERVE  AND  LIVE 
UP  TO  OUR  INHERITED  FAITH. 

Our  religion  has  civilized  and  enlightened  men,  and  they  by  their 
cultivating  the  divine  lessons  which  it  teaches,  have  acquired  knowl- 


84  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

edge  and  understanding  whereby  they  have  brought  into  existence 
all  those  blessings  of  civilization  which  surround  us.  All  this  our 
ancestors  have  secured  for  us,  not  infrequently  at  great  sacrifices. 
Shall  we  merely  reap  the  hard-earned  benefits  of  their  labors  ?  Shall 
we  remain  inactive,  do  nothing  for  the  cause  of  religion  ?  Just  as 
soon  as  we  desist  from  learning  and  teaching  our  religion  and  practic- 
ing its  sublime  lessons,  so  soon  do  we  fall  back  into  ignorance,  into 
that  state  of  barbarism,  a  mere  description  of  which  fills  us  with  hor- 
ror. We  owe  it  to  those  who  are  to  come  after  us  to  take  proper 
care  of  that  sacred  treasure,  our  holy  religion,  which  God  and  our 
forefathers  have  bequeathed  unto  us. 


i.  Moses  commanded  us  a  law,  even  the  inheritance  of  the  con- 
gregation of  Jacob!     (Deuteronomy  xxxiii.  4.) 

2.  He  established  a  testimony  in  Jacob  and  appointed  a  law  in 
Israel,  which  he  commanded  our  fathers,  that  they  should  make  them 
known  to  their  children;  that  the  generation  to  come  might  know 
them,  even  the  children  which  should  be  born  who  should  arise  and 
declare  them  to  their  children.     (Psalms  lxxviii.  5,  6.) 

3.  Neither  with  you  only  do  I  make  this  covenant  and  this  oath, 
but  with  him  that  standeth  here  with  us  this  day  before  the  Lord  our 
God,  and  also  with  him  that  is  not  here  with  us  this  day.  (Deu- 
teronomy xxix.  13,  14  ) 

4.  Be  of  good  courage  and  let  us  be  valiant  for  our  people  and 
for  the  cities  of  our  God,  and  the  Lord  do  that  which  is  good  in  his 
sight      (I.  Chronicles  xix.  13.) 

5.  The  Lord  is  the  portion  of  mine  inheritance  and  of  my  cup, 
thou  maintainest  my  lot.  The  lines  are  fallen  unto  me  in  pleasant 
places,  yea,  I  have  a  goodly  heritage.  I  will  bless  the  Lord,  who 
hath  given  me  counsel.     (Psalms  xvi.  5-7.) 

6.  Thus  saith  the  Lord,  Let  not  the  wise  man  glory  in  his  wisdom, 
neither  let  the  mighty  man  glory  in  his  might,  let  not  the  rich  man 


MAX    ANJD    HIS    MISSION.  85 

glory  in  his  riches;  but  let  him  that  glorieth  glory  in  this,  that  he  un- 
derstandeth  and  knoweth  me  that  I  am  the  Lord  which  exercise 
loving  kindness,  judgment  and  righteousness  in  the  earth,  for  in 
these  things  I  delight,  saith  the  Lord.     (Jeremiah  ix.  22,  23.) 

7.  Know  thou  the  God  of  thy  father  and  serve  him  with  a  perfect 
heart  and  with  a  willing  mind,  for  the  Lord  searcheth  all  hearts,  and 
understandeth  all  the  imaginations  of  the  thoughts.  (I.  Chronicles 
xxviii.  9.  ) 

8.  We  shall  know,  if  we  follow  on  to  know  the  Lord,  his  going 
forth  is  prepared  as  the  morning,  and  he  shall  come  unto  us  as  the 
rain.     (Hosea  vi.  3.  ) 

9.  For  I  desired  mercy  and  not  sacrifice,  and  the  knowledge  of 
God  more  than  burnt-offerings.     (Hosea  vi.  6  ) 

10.  The  grass  withereth,  the  flower  fadeth,  but  the  word  of  our 
God  shall  stand  forever.     (Isaiah  xl.  8.) 

11.  The  law  of  the  Lord  is  perfect,  converting  the  soul,  the 
testimony  of  the  Lord  is  sure,  making  wise  the  simple.  The  statutes 
of  the  Lord  are  right,  rejoicing  the  heart.  The  commandment  of  the 
Lord  is  pure,  enlightening  the  eyes.  The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  clean, 
enduring  forever.  The  judgments  of  the  Lord  are  true  and  righteous 
altogether.  More  to  be  desired  are  they  than  gold,  yea,  than  much 
fine  gold,  sweeter  also  than  honey  and  the  honey-comb.  (Psalms 
xix.  8-1 1.) 

12.  Unless  the  law  had  been  my  delights,  I  should  then  have 
perished  in  mine  affliction.  I  will  never  forget  thy  precepts,  for  with 
them  thou  hast  quickened  me.     (Psalms  cxix   92,93.) 

13.  The  law  of  thy  mouth  is  better  unto  me  than  thousands  of 
gold  and  silver.      (Psalms  cxix.  72.) 

VII.— IT  IS  OUR  SACRED  DUTY  TO  KEEP  FROM  SINNING 
AND  TO  REPENT  OF  OUR  EVIL  DOINGS. 

However  young,  however  limited  our  experiences  are,  we  can  not 
fail  to  make  one  observation,  namely,  sin  has  never  yet  brought  good. 


86  BIBLE   ETHICS. 

It  almost  always  leads  to  deserved  punishment,  and  when  the  wrong- 
doer does  sometimes  escape  from  being  detected,  his  conscience 
has  given  him  more  pain  than  any  punishment  could  have  done. 
Why,,  then,  should  we  continue  to  sin,  when  it  brings  us  and  others 
no  good  but  endless  evil  ?  Yet  man's  moral  nature  is  sometimes 
weak.  Often  we  are  led  to  sin,  even  against  our  will.  The  evil  has 
been  done,  but  much  of  its  pain  can  be  allayed  by  sincere  repentance. 
By  it  God  and  our  wronged  neighbors  become  again  reconciled  to  us. 
Moreover  sincere  repentance  will  guard  us  from  committing  in  the 
future  a  similar  wrong. 


"  Who  after  his  transgression  doth  repent 
Is  half  or  altogether  innocent. ' ' — Herrick. 

11  Angels  for  the  good  man's  sin 
Weep  to  record  and  blush  to  give  in." — Campbell. 

"I  could  not  live  in  peace  if  I  put  the  shadow  of  a  woful  sin  between 
myself  and  God." — George  Eliot. 

11  Great  sins  make  great  sufferers." — A.  K.  Green. 


Prove  the  truth  of  the  above  by  the  following  or  other  stories  in  the 
Bible:  Examples :  I.  Samuel  vii.  ;  I.  Kings  xxi. ;  Nehemiah  ix. ; 
Job  xxii.  

i .  Who  can  say  I  have  made  my  heart  clean,  I  am  pure  from  my 
sin?     (Proverbs  xx.  9.) 

2.  For  there  is  not  a  just  man  upon  earth  that  doeth  good  and 
sinneth  not.     (Ecclesiastes  vii.  20.) 

3.  There  is  no  rest  in  my  bones  because  of  my  sin,  for  mine  ini- 
quities are  gone  over  my  head,  as  a  heavy  burden  they  are  too 
heavy  for  me.     (Psalms  xxxviii.  4,  5.) 

4.  My  God,  I  am  ashamed  and  blush  to  lift  up  my  face  to  thee, 
my  God,  for  our  iniquities  are  increased  over  our  heads,  and  our  tres- 
pass is  grown  up  unto  the  heavens.      ( Ezra  ix.  6. ) 


MAN    AND    HIS    MISSION.  87 

5.  One  sinner  destroyeth  much  good.     (Ecclesiastes  ix.  18. ) 

6.  Evil  pursueth  sinners,  but  to  the  righteous  good  shall  be  re- 
paid.    (Proverbs  xiii.  21.) 

7.  For  the  Lord  knoweth  the  way  of  the  righteous,  but  the  way 
of  the  ungodly  shall  perish.      (Psalms  i.  6.) 

8.  If  thou,  Lord,  shouldst  mark  iniquities,  O  Lord,  who  shall 
stand?     (Psalms  cxxx.  3.) 

9.  Teach  us  to  number  our  days,  that  we  may  apply  our  hearts 
unto  wisdom.     (Psalms  xc.  12.) 

10.  As  I  live,  saith  the  Lord  God,  I  have  no  pleasure  in  the  death 
of  the  wicked:  but  that  the  wicked  turn  irom  his  way  and  live. 
(Ezekiel  xxxiii.  11.) 

11.  Cast  away  from  you  all  your  transgressions,  whereby  ye  have 
transgressed,  and  make  yourselves  a  new  heart  and  a  new  spirit,  ior 
why  will  ye  die,  O  house  of  Israel  ?  For  I  have  no  pleasure  in  the 
death  of  him  that  dieth,  saith  the  Lord  God,  wherefore  turn  and  live 
ye.     (Ezekiel  xviii.  31,  32.) 

12.  Return,  thou  backsliding  Israel,  saith  the  Lord,  and  I  will  not 
cause  mine  anger  to  fall  upon  you,  for  I  am  merciful,  saith  the  Lord, 
and  I  will  not  keep  anger  forever.     (Jeremiah  iii.  12.) 

13.  Return  ye,  backsliding  children,  and  I  will  heal  your  back- 
sliding. Behold  we  come  unto  thee,  for  thou  art  the  Lord  our  God- 
(Jeremiah  iii.  22.) 

14.  Turn  ye  to  me  with  all  your  heart,  and  with  fasting,  and  with 
weeping,  and  with  mourning;  and  rend  your  heart  and  not  your 
garment,  and  turn  unto  the  Lord  your  God,  for  he  is  gracious  and 
merciful,  slow  to  anger,  and  of  great  kindness,  and  repenteth  him  of 
the  evil.     (Joel  ii.  12,  13.) 

15.  He  that  covereth  his  sins  shall  not  prosper;  but  whoso  con- 
fessed and  forsaketh  them  shall  have  mercy.     (Proverbs  xxviii.    13.) 

16.  Let  the  wicked  forsake  his  way,  and  the  unrighteous  man  his 
thoughts ;  and  let  him  return  unto  the  Lord  and  he  will  have  mercy 
upon  him,  and  to  our  God,  for  he  will  abundantly  pardon.  (Isaiah 
lv.  7) 


S8  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

17.  Behold  the  Lord's  hand  is  not  shortened,  that  it  can  not  save; 
neither  his  ear  heavy,  that  it  can  not  hear.  But  your  iniquities  have 
separated  between  you  and  your  God,  and  your  sins  have  hid  his  face 
from  you,  that  he  will  not  hear.      (Isaiah  lix.   1,  2.) 

VIII.  —THE  GOOD    ARE    REWARDED,    THE    BAD    ARE 

PUNISHED.       . 

The  conviction  that  the  good  will  be  rewarded  and  the  bad  will  be 
punished  is  deeply  rooted  within  us.  The  sense  of  right  and  justice 
which  God  has  implanted  in  our  hearts  and  minds,  and  our  knowl- 
edge of  God  as  a  just  and  a  righteous  judge,  confirm  this  conviction. 
Furthermore,  along  with  this  conviction  goes  our  firm  confidence  in 
the  truth  of  the  promise  of  a  future  life,  which  our  religion  teaches. 
What  this  future  life  is  we  do  not  know.  Our  religion  teaches  that 
all  good  and  moral  men,  no  matter  what  their  religion,  will  share  the 
blessings  of  the  life  to  come.  Judgment  comes.  Those  who  have 
escaped  their  merited  punishment,  or  have  been  deprived  of  their  due 
rewards  in  this  life,  must  be  dealt  with  in  the  life  that  is  to  come  ac- 
cording to  their  guilt  or  merits. 


"  Disbelief  in  futurity  lessens  in  a  great  measure  the  ties  of  morality,  and 
may  be  supposed  for  that  reason  to  be  pernicious  to  civil  society." — flame. 


Show  the  truth  of  the  above  from  the  following  or  other  stones  of 
the  Bible:     Examples:     Job  v.,  viii.,  ix.,  xv. ,  xxiv. ;  Isaiah  ii. 


1.  Therefore  hearken  unto  me,  ye  men  of  understanding,  far  be 
it  from  God  that  he  should  do  wickedness;  and  from  the  Almighty 
that  he  should  commit  iniquity.  For  the  work  of  a  man  shall  he 
render  unto  him,  and  cause  every  man  to  find  according  to  his  ways. 
Yea,  surely  God  will  not  do  wickedly,  neither  will  the  Almighty  per- 
vert judgment.      (Job  xxxiv.  10-12.) 

2.  P'or   God  shall  bring  every  work  into  judgment,   with  every 


MAN    AND    HIS    MISSION.  3'. 

secret  thing,  whether  it  be  good  or  whether  it  be  evil.      (Ecclesiastes 
xii.  14.  ) 

3.  Rejoice,  O  young  man,  in  thy  youth;  and  let  thy  heart  cheer 
thee  in  the  days  of  thy  youth,  and  walk  in  the  ways  of  thy  heart, 
and  in  the  sight  of  thine  eyes;  but  know  thou  that  for  all  these  things- 
God  will  bring  thee  unto  judgment.     (Ecclesiastes  xi.  9.) 

4.  Behold  the  righteous  shall  be  recompensed  on  the  earth,  how 
much  more  the  wicked  and  the  sinner.     (Proverbs  xi.  31.) 

5.  Unto  thee,  O  Lord,  belongeth  mercy,  for  thou  rendereth  to- 
every  man  according  to  his  work.     (Psalms  lxii.  13.) 

6.  The  curse  of  the  Lord  is  in  the  house  of  the  wicked,  but  he 
blesseth  the  habitation  of  the  just.     (Proverbs  iii.  ^^.) 

7.  Then  shall  ye  return  and  discern  between  the  righteous  and  the 
wicked,  between  him  that  serveth  God  and  him  that  serveth  him  not. 
For,  behold,  the  day  cometh  that  shall  burn  as  an  oven ;  and  all  the 
proud,  yea,  and 'all  that  do  wickedly  shall  be  stubble:  and  the 
day  that  cometh  shall  burn  them  up,  saith  the  Lord  of  hosts,  that  it 
shall  leave  them  neither  root  nor  branch.  But  unto  you  that  fear  my 
name  shall  the  sun  of  righteousness  arise  with  healing  in  his  wings. 
(Malachi  iii.  18-21.) 

8.  He  that  soweth  iniquity  shall  reap  vanity,  and  the  rod  of  his- 
anger  shall  fade.     (Proverbs  xxii.  8.) 

9.  They  that  sow  in  tears  shall  reap  in  joy.  He  that  goeth  forth 
and  weepeth,  bearing  precious  seed,  shall  doubtless  come  again  with; 
rejoicing,  bring  in  his  sheaves  with  him.     (Psalms  cxxvi.  5,  6.) 

10.  The  righteous  shall  flourish  like  the  palm  tree,  he  shall  grow 
like  a  cedar  in  Lebanon.  Those  that  be  planted  in  the  house  of 
the  Lord  shall  flourish  in  the  courts  of  our  God.  To  show  that  the 
Lord  is  upright,  he  is  my  rock,  and  there  is  no  unrighteousness  in 
him.      (Psalms  xcii.  13,  14,  16.) 

11.  As  for  me,  I  will  behold  thy  face  in  righteousness,  I  shall  be 
satisfied,  when  I  awake,  with  thy  likeness.      (Psalms  xvii.  15.) 


90  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

IX.— IT  IS  OUR  SACRED  DUTY  TO  OBEY  AND  TEACH  THE 
WILL  OF  GOD  WHICH  WAS  REVEALED  TO  ISRAEL. 

When  Moses  gave  the  Law  to  our  ancestors,  with  one  voice  they 
answered:  "We  will  obey  it  and  ever  guard  it."  They  have  ad 
hered  to  this  noble  promise  for  thousands  of  years.  There  were  times 
when  they  became  faithless,  but  soon,  when  misfortune  opened  their 
eyes,  they  gladly  returned  again  to  their  religion,  for  only  in  faithful 
adherence  to  it  could  they  find  true  happiness.  So  convinced  were 
they  of  its  sublime  truths  that  they  would  rather  suffer  hatred,  hard- 
ships, persecution  and  death  than  forsake  it.  God  has  created  man 
to  be  happy,  and  to  become  morally  perfect,  and  to  this  end  he  has 
revealed  to  us  his  divine  law.  If  we  wish  to  realize  the  blessings 
which  God  holds  forth  to  us,  then  we  must  never  forget  the  truths  nor 
cease  to  practice  the  virtues  nor  fail  to  teach  the  lessons  of  our  holy  ] 
religion.     There  is  no  law  like  unto  his,  no  law  to  take  its  place. 


"  Undoubtedly  the  revealed  law  is  infinitely  more  authentic  than  that 
moral  system  which  is  framed  by  ethical  writers,  and  denominated  the  nat- 
ural law ;  because  one  is  the  law  of  Nature,  expressly  declared  so  to  be  by 
God  himself,  the  other  is  only  what  by  the  assistance  of  human  reason,  we 
imagine  to  be  that  law.  If  we  could  be  as  certain  of  the  latter  as  of  the 
former,  both  would  have  an  equal  authority,  but  until  then  they  can  never 
be  put  in  competition  together." — Blackstone. 


i.  Remember  ye  the  law  of  Moses  my  servant,  which  I  com- 
manded unto  him  in  Horeb  for  all  Israel,  with  the  statutes  and  judg- 
ments.    (Malachiiii.  22.) 

2.  He  showeth  his  word  unto  Jacob,  his  statutes  and  his  judgments 
unto  Israel.     (Psalms  cxlvii.  19.  ) 

3.  And  God  spake  all  these  words,  saying  : 

I.  I  am  the  Lord  thy  God,  who  brought  thee  out  of  the  land  of 
Egypt,  out  of  the  house  of  bondage. 

II.  Thou  shalt  have  no  other  gods  before  me.     Thou  shalt  not 


MAN    AND    HIS    MISSION.  9 1 

make  unto  thee  any  graven  image,  or  any  likeness  of  anything 
that  is  in  the  heaven,  above  or  that  is  in  the  earth  beneath,  or 
that  is  in  the  water  under  the  earth.  Thou  shalt  not  bow  down  to 
them,  nor  serve  them,  for  I  the  Lord  thy  God  am  a  jealous  God,  visit- 
ing the  iniquities  of  the  fathers  upon  the  children  unto  the  third  and 
fourth  generations  of  them  that  hate  me;  and  showing  mercy  unto  the 
thousandth  generation  of  them  that  love  me  and  keep  my  command- 
ments. 

III.  Thou  shalt  not  take  the  name  of  the  Lord  thy  God  in  vain, 
for  the  Lord  will  not  hold  him  guiltless  that  taketh  his  name  in  vain. 

IV.  Remember  the  Sabbath-day  to  keep  it  holy.  Six  days  shalt 
thou  labor  and  do  all  thy  work,  but  the  seventh  day  is  the  Sabbath- 
day  of  the  Lord  thy  God;  on  it  thou  shalt  not  do  any  work,  thou  nor 
thy  son,  nor  thy  daughter,  nor  thy  man-servant,  nor  thy  maid-servant, 
nor  thy  cattle,  nor  thy  stranger  that  is  within  thy  gates.  For  in  six 
days  the  Lord  made  heaven  and  earth,  the  sea  and  all  that  is  in  them, 
and  rested  on  the  seventh  day;  therefore  the  Lord  blessed  the  Sab- 
bath-day and  hallowed  it. 

V.  Honor  thy  father  and  thy  mother  that  thy  days  may  be  long 
upon  the  land  which  the  Lord  thy  God  giveth  thee. 

VI.  Thou  shalt  not  kill. 

VII.  Thou  shalt  not  commit  lewdness. 

VIII.  Thou  shalt  not  steal. 

IX.  Thou  shalt  not  bear  false  witness  against  thy  neighbor. 

X.  Thou  shalt  not  covet  thy  neighbor's  house,  thou  shalt  not 
covet  thy  neighbor's  wife,  nor  his  man-servant  nor  his  maid-servant, 
nor  his  ox,  nor  his  ass,  nor  anything  that  is  thy  neighbor's.  (Exodus 
xx.  1-16.) 

4.  Behold,  the  Lord  our  God  hath  shown  us  his  glory  and  his 
greatness,  and  we  have  heard  his  voice  out  of  the  midst  of  the  fire, 
we  have  seen  this  day  that  God  doth  talk  with  man,  and  he  liveth. 
Go  thou  near,  and  hear  all  that  the  Lord  our  God  shall  say,  and 
speak  thou  unto  us  all  that  the  Lord  our  God  shall  speak  unto  thee;  and 
we  will  hear   it   and  do  it,   and  the  Lord  heard  the  voice  of  your 


92  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

words,  when  ye  spake  unto  me ;  and  the  Lord  said  unto  me,  I  have 
heard  the  voice  of  the  words  of  this  people,  which  they  have  spoken 
unto  thee,  they  have  well  said  all  they  have  spoken.  O  that  there 
were  such  a  heart  in  them,  that  they  would  fear  me  and  keep  my 
commandments  always  that  it  might  be  well  with  them,  and  with  their 
children  forever.      (Deuteronomy  v.  21,  24,  26.) 

X.— IN  ALWAYS  FULFILLING  THESE  DUTIES  LIES  THE 
REALIZATION  OF  THE  MISSION  OF  OUR  RELIGION. 

The  mission  of  our  religion  is  to  make  us  realize  all  the  benefits 
with  which  God  has  blessed  us  It  bids  us  to  strive  with  all  the 
powers  which  he  has  endowed  us  to  bring  on  that  glorious  time  when 
all  men  will  live  together  in  unity  and  peace,  when  all  men  will  unite 
in  worshiping  only  the  one  holy  God,  and  when  the  spirit  of  enlighten- 
ment will  reign  supreme.  The  realization  of  this  lofty  mission  lies 
in  our  own  hands.  If  we  live  up  to  the  teachings  of  our  religion,  and 
by  examples  and  words  show  others  the  necessity  and  the  benefits  of 
leading  a  pure  and  holy  life,  it  will  not  be  long  before  the  common 
fatherhood  of  God  and  the  common  brotherhood  of  men  will  be  ac- 
knowledged as  the  guiding  principle  of  men  in  the  actions  of  all  in- 
telligent beings. 


"It is  not  Israel's  political  restoration,  the  re-establishment  or  the  com- 
ing of  a  redeeming  Messiah,  which  the  Bible  promises  or  predicts.  It  is  a 
final  and  universal  triumph  of  truth,  righteousness,  liberty  and  justice  to 
which  the  prophets  point.  Every  person  contributing  to  the  achievement 
of  this  great  purpose  is  a  Messiah  and  a  messenger  of  the  Most  High.  The 
habitable  world  must  become  one  holy  land,  every  city  a  Jerusalem,  every 
house  a  temple,  every  table  an  altar,  every  person  a  priest  of  the  -Most 
High.  This  is  the  kingdom  of  God,  the  hope  of  mankind,  our  mission." — 
I.  M.   Wise. 


1.     Then  will  I  sprinkle  clean  water  upon  you,  and  ye  shall  be 


MAN    AND    HIS    MISSION.  93 

clean  from  all  your  impurities,  and  from  all  your  idols  will  I  cleanse 
you.  A  new  heart  also  will  I  give  you,  and  a  new  spirit  will  I  put 
within  you,  and  I  will  take  away  the  heart  of  stone  out  of  your  flesh, 
and  I  will  give  you  a  heart  of  flesh.     (Ezekiel  xxxv.  25,  26.) 

2.  Behold,  the  days  come,  saith  the  Lord,  that  I  will  make  a  new 
covenant  with  the  house  of  Israel,  and  with  the  house  of  Judah;  not 
according  to  the  covenant  that  I  made  with  their  fathers  on  the  day 
that  I  took  them  by  the  hand  to  bring  them  out  of  the  land  of  Egypt ; 
which  my  covenant  they  broke,  although  I  was  a  husband  unto  them 
saith  the  Lord.  But  this  shall  be  the  covenant  that  I  will  make  with 
the  house  of  Israel,  after  those  days,  saith  the  Lord,  I  will  put  my 
law  in  their  inward  parts,  and  write  it  in  their  hearts;  and  will  be 
their  God,  and  they  shall  be  my  people.  And  they  shall  teach  no 
more  every  man  his  neighbor,  and  every  man  his  brother,  saying, 
Know  the  Lord,  for  they  shall  all  know  me,  from  the  least  of  them 
unto  the  greatest  of  them,  saith  the  Lord,  for  I  will  forgive  their 
iniquity,  and  I  will  remember  their  sin  no  more.  Thus  saith  the 
Lord,  who  giveth  the  sun  for  a  light  by  day,  and  the  ordinances  of 
the  moon  and  of  the  stars  for  a  light  by  night,  which  divideth  the  sea 
when  the  waves  thereof  roar,  the  Lord  of  hosts  is  his  name.  If  these 
ordinances  depart  from  before  me,  saith  the  Lord,  then  the  seed  of 
Israel  also  shill  cease  from  being  a  nation  before  me  forever.  (Jere- 
miah xxxi.  31-36.) 

3.  As  for  me  this  is  my  covenant  with  them,  saith  the  Lord;  my 
spirit  that  is  upon  thee  and  my  words  which  I  have  put  in  thy  mouth 
shall  not  depart  out  of  thy  mouth,  nor  out  of  the  mouth  of  thy  chil- 
dren, nor  out  of  the  mouth  of  thy  children's  children,  from  hence- 
forth unto  all  eternity,  saith  the  Lord.     (Isaiah  lix.  21.) 

4.  In  those  days,  and  at  that  time,  will  I  cause  the  branch  of 
righteousness  to  grow  up  unto  David ;  and  he  shall  execute  judgment 
and  righteousness  in  the  land.  In  those  days  shall  Judah  be  saved,  and 
Jerusalem  shall  dwell  safely,  and  this  is  the  name  wherewith  she  shall 
be  called,  the  Lord  is  our  Righteousness.     (Jeremiah  xxxiii.  15,  16.) 


94  BIBLE    ETHICS. 

5.  But  in  the  last  days  it  shall  come  to  pass  that  the  mountain  of 
the  house  of  the  Lord  shall  be  established  in  the  top  of  the  mountains, 
and  it  shall  be  exalted  above  the  hills,  and  people  shall  flow  unto  it. 
And  many  nations  shall  come,  and  say,  Come  and  let  us  go  up  to  the 
mountain  of  the  Lord,  and  to  the  house  of  the  God  of  Jacob,  and  he 
will  teach  us  of  his  ways,  and  we  will  walk  in  his  paths,  for  the  Law 
shall  go  forth  out  of  Zion,  and  the  word  of  the  Lord  from  Jerusalem. 
And  he  shall  judge  among  many  people,  and  rebuke  strong  nations 
afar  off;  and  they  shall  beat  their  swords  into  plowshares  and  their 
spears  into  pruning-hooks;  nations  shall  not  lift  up  sword  against 
nation,  neither  shall  they  learn  war  any  more.  But  they  shall  sit 
every  man  under  his  vine  and  under  his  fig  tree,  and  none  shall 
make  them  afraid,  for  the  mouth  of  the  Lord  of  Hosts  hath  spoken  it. 
(Michah  iv.  1-4.) 

6.  Arise,  shine,  for  the  light  is  come,  and  the  glory  of  the  Lord  is 
risen  upon  thee.  For,  behold,  the  darkness  shall  cover  the  earth, 
and  gross  darkness  the  people,  but  the  Lord  shall  arise  upon  thee,  and 
his  glory  shall  be  seen  upon  thee.  And  the  Gentiles  shall  come  to 
thy  light  and  kings  to  the  brightness  of  thy  rising.     (Isaiah  lx.    1-3.^ 

7.  For  the  earth  shall  be  filled  with  the  knowledge  of  the  glory  of 
the  Lord,  as  the  waters  cover  the  sea.      (Habakkuk  ii.  14.) 

8.  For  then  will  I  turn  to  the  people  a  pure  language  that  they 
may  all  call  upon  the  name  of  the  Lord,  to  serve  him  with  one  con- 
sent.    (Zephaniah  iii.  9.) 

9.  All  the  ends  of  the  world  shall  remember  and  turn  unto  the 
Lord,  and  all  the  kindreds  of  the  nations  shall  worship  before  thee. 
For  the  kingdom  is  the  Lord's  and  he  is  the  governor  among  the  na- 
tions.     (Psalms  xxii.  28,  29.) 

10.  And  the  Lord  shall  be  king  over  all  the  earth,  in  that  day 
shall  there  be  one  Lord,  and  his  name  one.     (Zechariah  xiv.  9.) 


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